Chinese authorities, which has been placed at my disposition by the American Consul-General.
This document was signed, I am informed, in 1901, and the fact that the Railway Company were prepared at this time to subsidize a Chinese bureau for the special object of determining cases in which the Chinese employees of the railway were concerned seems to show clearly that there was then no idea of claiming exclusive administrative rights under Article 6 of the Agreement of 1896 such as have recently been advanced.
A few days ago I had a conversation with Mr. Dawson Gröne, who has been acting as Commissioner of Customs at Harbin during the past two months, Mr. Gröne requested that I should regard any information obtained from him as confidential,
He was of opinion that there are great possibilities commercially at Harbin, in view of its position as a railway centre and the probability of the agricultural development of the northern portion of Manchuria in the near future, more especially the fertile regions along the lower reaches of the Sungari River. The conditions imposed by the Railway Company, however, made it impossible for any merchants except Russians to hold land in the Railway Settlement, and Mr. Gröne evidently held a very poor opinion of the capacity and energy of the Russian merchants at present established in the town. The police force is quite inadequate to hold in check the large number of bad characters who haunt the town, and neither life nor property are secure, whilst the Railway Administration generally Mr. Gröne describes as being corrupt and inefficient beyond measure. He contrasts the state of affairs in the Chinese town very favourably with that obtaining in the Railway Settlement area.
As regards the political situation Mr. Gröne thought that since the death of M. Pokotilow, the railway authorities seemed much less determined to force through their claim for exclusive administrative rights. It appeared to him as if for the sake of a quiet life they would be willing to give way; they were, however, being spurred to activity by the Japanese Consul-General,
Mr. Fisher, the American Consul at Harbin, I gather from my American colleague here, holds similar opinions, except that he has recently remarked a change in the Japanese attitude.
General Gromtschetsky, the local Director of the Railway Company, has been removed it is said, owing to the disapproval of the Central Office of the Obligatory Regulations issued by him in December and January last, copies of which have been forwarded to you.
The British American Tobacco Company have recently established themselves in Fu Chia Tien, the Chinese quarter of Harbin, Fu Chia Tien, Mr. Gröne tells me, is held by the Chinese authorities to be the interior, and on the 29th ultimo I received a letter from the Tobacco Company complaining of the duties that were collected in Fu Chia Tien from dealers purchasing their goods. The letter further stated that no charges were being levied on Japanese goods of a similar nature. As the Company's information was derived through a Chinese agent, and as the Manager himself and one of the Directors of the firm were on the point of visiting Harbin, I considered it advisable to await further details before taking any action.
The object of the Chinese Government in opening Harbin was presumably to obtain assistance from the Treaty Powers in their dispute with the Chinese Eastern Railway Company, and in the event of the Railway Company successfully maintaining their attitude, it seems improbable that the Chinese will admit the contention that Fu Chia Tien was intended by them to be regarded as an open mart.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
ROBERT WILLIS.
3
the places where they live, they will be dealt with at the time of such occurrence by the Chinese officials according to Chinese Law.
When cases of an extraordinary nature occur, the railway officer in charge of that division of the line will report to the Bureau, and at the same time notify the local authority. When the reply of the Bureau has been received as to whether the Bureau will take charge of the case, or whether the local authority will do so, then the case will be taken up for adjustment.
3. All cases that coincide with those contained in Article 2 regarding which steps have been taken by any Yamên or local official toward their settlement, shall be reported to the Bureau, which will in turn arrange with the Superintendent of the railway whether the said cases shall be settled in the Bureau or by the local authority.
4. Hereafter all cases relating to those contained in Article 2 which are now in the hands of any Yamên or official, shall be transmitted to the Bureau for adjustment. The decisions of the Bureau shall be carried out by the respective local Chinese authorities.
5. All cases included in Article 2 shall be submitted to the joint investigation of the Bureau and the Superintendent of the Eastern Chinese Railway Company or his authorized representative, who will arrange and settle them satisfactorily.
6. Sentences will be pronounced against Chinese subjects in the employ of the Railway Company, as mentioned in Article 2, after having been convicted by the Bureau.
7. All cases of great importance, and cases in which the Bureau and the Superintendent of the Railway hold different opinions, shall be transmitted to the Chang Chuen, who will adjust them according to the report of the Bureau and the despatches of the Superintendent of the Railway. Other cases shall be settled satisfactorily by the Chief of the Bureau and the Superintendent of the Railway or his authorized representative. The decisions will be reported to the Chang Chuen and the Chief of the Bureau of Foreign Affairs for Kirin.
8. The officers of this Bureau will be appointed by the Chang Chuen; soldiers will be dispatched by him. The Chief of the Bureau will also be appointed by him, but to give due importance to the appointment, the Superintendent of the Railway will be notified before the appointment is made. When vacancies occur, the Superintendent of the Railway may recommend for appointment such good and able officials of Kirin Province, who are well acquainted with railway affairs, as he has authentic knowledge of.
9. The Superintendent of the Railway will pay over to the Chief of the Bureau 60,000 Kirin taels annually for the expenses of himself, the officials under him, the soldiers, &c. The said sum shall be paid in instalments, such instalments in advance for the term of three months.
10. The Superintendent of the Railway will provide the necessary sums for the construction of the offices and other buildings of the Bureau, quarters for the employees, the purchase of furniture, &c., which funds will be agreed upon between the Chief of the Bureau and the Superintendent of the Railway.
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Regulations for the Establishment of a Chief Bureau in Harbin for the Conduct of Relations with the Railway Authorities.
1. A Chief Bureau for the conduct of relations with the railway authorities shall be established at Harbin, Kirin.
2. The duties of the said Bureau will be to settle all cases wholly or in part, in relation to the Railway Company, its employees, commission agents, contractors, and such persons as mechanics, employed by it.
As to cases relating to labourers, their offences, or any crime that they commit at
Sir,
Inclosure 3 in No. 1.
Mr. Fisher to Assistant Secretary of State, Washington.
American Consulate, Harbin, Manchuria, April 15, 1908.
I HAVE the honour to inform the Department that on the 10th instant Mr. T. Kawakami, the Japanese Consul-General at Harbin, called upon me and drew my attention to a Washington telegram recently published in the Russian newspapers in Harbin, to the effect that the Russian Ambassador at Washington had made representations to the American Government regarding my refusal to recognize the Eastern Mr. Kawakami Chinese Railway Company's administration over Harbin and Hailar.
said that he had received telegraphic instructions from his Minister in Peking to obtain from me, if I had no objections, the grounds upon which I had refused to recognize the Railway's administration.
* Le, the Governor of Kirin Province.
[1819 p-1]
B 2
2
Chinese authorities, which has been placed at my disposition by the American Consul- General.
This document was signed, I am informed, in 1901, and the fact that the Railway Company were prepared at this time to subsidize a Chinese bureau for the special object of determining cases in which the Chinese employees of the railway were concerned seems to show clearly that there was then no idea of claiming exclusive administrative rights under Article 6 of the Agreement of 1896 such as have recently been advanced.
A few days ago I had a conversation with Mr. Dawson Gröne, who has been acting as Commissioner of Customs at Harbin during the past two months, Mr. Gröne requested that I should regard any information obtained from him as confidential,
He was of opinion that there are great possibilities commercially at Harbin, in view of its position as a railway centre and the probability of the agricultural develop- ment of the northern portion of Manchuria in the near future, more especially the fertile regions along the lower reaches of the Sungari River. The conditions imposed by the Railway Company, however, made it impossible for any merchants except Russians to hold land in the Railway Settlement, and Mr. Gröne evidently held a very poor opinion of the capacity and energy of the Russian merchants at present established in the town. The police force is quite inadequate to hold in cheque the large number of bad characters who baunt the town, and neither life nor property are secure, whilst the Railway Administration generally Mr. Gröne describes as being corrupt and inefficient beyond measure. He contrasts the state of affairs in the Chinese town very favourably with that obtaining in the Railway Settlement area.
As regards the political situation Mr. Gröne thought that since the death of M. Pokotilow, the railway authorities seemed much less determined to force through their claim for exclusive administrative rights. It appeared to him as if for the sake of a quiet life they would be willing to give way; they were, however, being spurred to activity by the Japanese Consul-General,
Mr. Fisher, the American Consul at Harbin, I gather from my American colleague here, holds similar opinions, except that he has recently remarked a change in the Japanese attitude.
General Gromtschetsky, the local Director of the Railway Company, has been removed it is said, owing to the disapproval of the Central Office of the Obligatory Regulations issued by him in December and January last, copies of which have been forwarded to you.
The British American Tobacco Company have recently established themselves in Fu Chia Tien, the Chinese quarter of Harbin, Fu Chia Tien, Mr. Gröne tells me, is held by the Chinese authorities to be the interior, and on the 29th ultimo I received a letter from the Tobacco Company complaining of the duties that were collected in Fu Chia Tien from dealers purchasing their goods. The letter further stated that no charges were being levied on Japanese goods of a similar nature. As the Company's information was derived through a Chinese agent, and as the Manager himself and one of the Directors of the firm were on the point of visiting Harbin, I considered it advisable to await further details before taking any action.
The object of the Chinese Government in opening Harbin was presumably to obtain assistance from the Treaty Powers in their dispute with the Chinese Eastern Railway Company, and in the event of the Railway Company successfully maintaining their attitude, it seems improbable that the Chinese will admit the contention that Fu Chia Tien was intended by them to be regarded as an open mart.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
ROBERT WILLIS.
3
the places where they live, they will be dealt with at the time of such occurrence by the Chinese officials according to Chinese Law.
When cases of an extraordinary nature occur, the railway officer in charge of that division of the line will report to the Bureau, and at the same time notify the local authority. When the reply of the Bureau has been received as to whether the Bureau will take charge of the case, or whether the local authority will do so, then the case will be taken up for adjustment.
3. All cases that coincide with those contained in Article 2 regarding which steps have been taken by any Yamon or local official toward their settlement, shall be reported to the Bureau, which will in turn arrange with the Superintendent of the railway whether the said cases shall be settled in the Bureau or by the local anthority.
4. Hereafter all cases relating to those contained in Article 2 which are now in the hands of any Yamên or official, shall be transmitted to the Bureau for adjustment. The decisions of the Burcau shall be carried out by the respective local Chinese authorities.
5. All cases included in Article 2 shall be submitted to the joint investigation of the Bureau and the Superintendent of the Eastern Chinese Railway Company or his autho- rized representative, who will arrange and settle them satisfactorily.
6. Sentences will be pronounced against Chinese subjects in the employ of the Railway Company, as mentioned in Article 2, after having been convicted by the Bureau.
7. All cases of great importance, and cases in which the Bureau and the Superin- tendent of the Railway hold different opinions, shall be transmitted to the *Chang Chuen, who will adjust them according to the report of the Bureau and the despatches of the Superintendent of the Railway. Other cases shall be settled satisfactorily by the Chief of the Bureau and the Superintendent of the Railway or his authorized repre- sentative. The decisions will be reported to the Chang Chuen and the Chief of the Bureau of Foreign Affairs for Kirin.
8. The officers of this Bureau will be appointed by the Chang Chuen; soldiers will be dispatched by him. The Chief of the Bureau will also be appointed by him, but to give due importance to the appointment, the Superintendent of the Railway will be notified before the appointment is made. When vacancies occur, the Superintendent of the Railway may recommend for appointment such good and able officials of Kirin Province, who are well acquainted with railway affairs, as he has authentic knowledge of.
9. The Superintendent of the Railway will pay over to the Chief of the Bureau 60,000 Kirin taels annually for the expenses of himself, the officials under him, the soldiers, &c. The said sum shall be paid in instalments, such instalments in advance for the term of three months.
10. The Superintendent of the Railway will provide the necessary sums for the construction of the offices and other buildings of the Bureau, quarters for the employees, the purchase of furniture, &c., which funds will be agreed upon between the Chief of the Bureau and the Superintendent of the Railway.
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Regulations for the Establishment of a Chief Bureau in Harbin for the Conduct of Relations with the Railway Authorities.
1. A CHIEF Bureau for the conduct of relations with the railway authorities shall be established at Harbin, Kirin.
2. The duties of the said Bureau will be to settle all cases wholly or in part, in relation to the Railway Company, its employees, commission agents, contractors, and such persons as mechanics, employed by it.
As to cases relating to labourers, their offences, or any crime that they commit at
Sir,
Inclosure 3 in No. 1.
Mr. Fisher to Assistant Secretary of State, Washington.
American Consulate, Harbin, Manchuria, April 15, 1908.
I HAVE the honour to inform the Department that on the 10th instant Mr. T. Kawakami, the Japanese Consul-General at Harbin, called upon me and drew my attention to a Washington telegram recently published in the Russian newspapers in Harbin, to the effect that the Russian Ambassador at Washington had made representa- tions to the American Government regarding my refusal to recognize the Eastern Mr. Kawakami Chinese Railway Company's administration over Harbin and Hailar.
said that he had received telegraphic instructions from his Minister in Peking to obtain from me, if I had no objections, the grounds upon which I had refused to recognize the Railway's administration.
* Le, the Governor of Kirin Province.
[1819 p-1]
B 2
800
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