This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[25133]
No. 1.
285
29532
Bruly, 20-hug 08
SECTION 1.
(No. 287.) Sir,
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey-(Received July 20.)
Peking, June 24, 1908.
I INSTRUCTED Mr. Campbell, before entering upon the negotiations referred to in my despatch No. 229 of the 26th May, to visit the Chinese Engineering and Mining Company's property at Tongshan and Chinwangtao, and ascertain personally how matters stood with regard to the new workings of the Lanchow Company. On the 30th May he found that this Company's Chen Chia Ling colliery was in full operation and producing 120 tons of coal a day. Two shafts had been sunk 170 feet, and a third was being sunk; there were substantial new buildings as offices, and some 400 men were employed above and below ground.
After his return from Tongshan, on the 2nd June, Mr. Campbell saw Mr. M. T. Liang at the Wai-wu Pu, and reminded him of the condition stated in my letter of the 4th May to his Excellency Tong Shoa-yi that work on the new mine at Chen Chia Ling should be stopped pending the negotiations for a settlement of the whole question. As he expressed ignorance of this condition, and said that it would be an extremely difficult one to fulfil, a copy of my letter of the 4th May was sent to him, and Mr. Campbell pressed the matter again on his attention at an interview of the 5th June. He agreed to see the Viceroy at Tien-tsin, show his Excellency my letter to Tong, and see what could be done towards fulfilling my condition. At his request Mr. Campbell sent him a copy of the judgment in the Chinese Engineering and Mining Company's case in the Court of Appeal, of which he appeared to have only a second-hand acquaintance.
On the 12th June he informed Mr. Campbell that the Viceroy had declined to stop the Lanchow Company's workings at Chen Chia Ling, and next day I remonstrated with his Excellency Tong Shoa-yi in a letter copy of which is inclosed.
At the Wai-wu Pu on the 16th June the whole matter was discussed at length. Their Excellencies went into past history, upon which they commented with some asperity, urging that Chang Yen-mao's transfer deed could not hold good for the reason that he had not the power to transfer what did not belong to him or to the old Company, and made an offer to submit to arbitration the question whether the Lanchow Company was legally entitled to mine at Chen Chia Ling and at other places outside the limits of the original Concession to the old K'aiping Company. I declined to consider any proposal of the kind, and insisted that the starting-point of the negotiations for a settlement must be the judgment of the Court of Appeal, and that the transfer deed could not now be questioned in the manner suggested. I asked to be informed definitely whether the Wai-wu Pu would or would not request the Viceroy to fulfil my condition, and their Excellencies replied that they must see his Excellency Yuan Shih-k'ai, who is at the Summer Palace, before answering the question. At their request I supplied them with a Memorandum on the 17th June, copy of which I inclose, for the purpose of placing the facts clearly before Yuan.
Yesterday morning his Excellency Tong Shoa-yi called to see me, and explained that, the matter not being "within his province," it was out of his power to accept any condition to bind the Lanchow Company, who were under the control of the Viceroy of Chibli.
After a long discussion, with the details of which I need not trouble you, he promised to see the Viceroy, and also Yuan Shih-k'ai, and endeavour to arrange a stoppage of the Lanchow Company's workings, without prejudice, pending the issue of the negotiations for a settlement.
I called at the Wai-wu Pu yesterday afternoon, but was unable to see Mr. M. T. Liang, from whom I hoped to hear the views of his Excellency Yuan Shih-k'ai on my Memorandum of the 17th June. I left a message, however, with his Excellency Liang Tun-yen that I desired to know as soon as possible, for the information of His Majesty's Government, whether the Lanchow Company's workings would be suspended.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
[1865 u-1]
J
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[25133)
No. 1.
285
29532
Bruly, 20-hug 08
SECTION 1.
(No. 287.) Sir,
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey-(Received July 20.)
Peking, June 24, 1908. I INSTRUCTED Mr. Campbell, before entering upon the negotiations referred to in my despatch No. 229 of the 26th May, to visit the Chinese Engineering and Mining Company's property at Tongshan and Chinwangtao, and ascertain personally On how matters stood with regard to the new workings of the Lanehow Company. the 30th May he found that this Company's Chen Chia Ling colliery was in full operation and producing 120 tons of coal a day. Two shafts had been sunk 170 feet, and a third was being sunk; there were substantial new buildings as offices, and some 400 men were employed above and below ground.
After his return from Tongshan, on the 2nd June, Mr. Campbell saw Mr. M. T. Liang at the Wai-wu Pu, and reminded him of the condition stated in my letter of the 4th May to his Excellency Tong Shoa-yi that work on the new mine at Chen Chia Ling should be stopped pending the negotiations for a settlement of the whole question. As he expressed ignorance of this condition, and said that it would be an extremely difficult one to fulfil, a copy of my letter of the 4th May was sent to him, and Mr. Campbell pressed the matter again on his attention at an interview of the 5th June. He agreed to see the Viceroy at Tien-tsin, show his Excellency my letter to Tong, and see what could be done towards fulfilling my condition. At his request Mr. Campbell sent him a copy of the judgment in the Chinese Engineering and Mining Company's case in the Court of Appeal, of which he appeared to have only a second- band acquaintance.
On the 12th June he informed Mr. Campbell that the Viceroy had declined to stop the Lanchow Company's workings at Chen Chia Ling, and next day I remonstrated with his Excelleney Tong Shoa-yi in a letter copy of which is inclosed.
At the Wai-wu Pu on the 16th June the whole matter was discussed at length. Their Excellencies went into past history, upon which they commented with some asperity, urging that Chang Yen-mao's transfer deed could not hold good for the reason that he had not the power to transfer what did not belong to him or to the old Company, and made an offer to submit to arbitration the question whether the Lanchow Company was legally entitled to mine at Chen Chia Ling and at other places outside the limits of the original Concession to the old K'aiping Company. I declined to consider any proposal of the kind, and insisted that the starting-point of the nego- tiations for a settlement must be the judgment of the Court of Appeal, and that the transfer deed could not now be questioned in the manner suggested. I asked to be informed definitely whether the Wai-wu Pu would or would not request the Viceroy to fulfil my condition, and their Excellencies replied that they must see his Excellency Yuan Shih-k'ai, who is at the Summer Palace, before answering the question. At their request I supplied them with a Memorandum on the 17th June, copy of which I inclose, for the purpose of placing the facts clearly before Yuan.
Yesterday morning his Excellency Tong Shoa-yi called to see me, and explained that, the matter not being "within his province," it was out of his power to accept any condition to bind the Lanchow Company, who were under the control of the Viceroy of Chibli.
After a long discussion, with the details of which I need not trouble you, he promised to see the Viceroy, and also Yuan Shih-k'ai, and endeavour to arrange a stoppage of the Lanchow Company's workings, without prejudice, pending the issue of the negotiations for a settlement.
I called at the Wai-wu Pu yesterday afternoon, but was unable to see Mr. M. T. Liang, from whom I hoped to hear the views of his Excellency Yuan Shih-k'ai on my Memorandum of the 17th June. I left a message, however, with his Excellency Liang Tun-yen that I desired to know as soon as possible, for the information of His Majesty's Government, whether the Lanchow Company's workings would be suspended.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
[1865 u-1]
J
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