[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government
24461
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[June 18.] 7 JUL 08
SECTION 1,
(21707)
(No. 186.)
Sir,
No. 1.
Sir Edward Grey to Mr. Bryce.
Foreign Office, June 18, 1908.
I TOLD the American Ambassador to-day that I had already spoken to the Japanese Ambassador about the Russian contention at Harbin.
I had explained to the Japanese Ambassador that we had not ourselves raised the question, as British interests were not very materially concerned. But, having been asked our opinion by the United States' Government, we had said that the Russian contention appeared to us to be an extreme interpretation of railway rights, which would constitute an imperium in imperio, and would not be consistent with the integrity of China or the policy of the "open door" in Manchuria.
33
I had also told the Japanese Ambassador that we should be prepared, if his Government desired it, to discuss any question of the kind at any time; and that, as the question had been put to us respecting what had taken place at Harbin, I wished his Government to know the opinion which we had expressed."
The Japanese Ambassador had said nothing to lead me to suppose that the Japanese were committed to support the Russian contention or that they differed from the view which I had expressed. All Count Komura had done was to promise to communicate to his Government what I had said. He had not expressed any opinion of his own.
Mr. Whitelaw Reid thanked me for what I had done, and said he was sure Mr. Root would be pleased to know what I had said to the Japanese Ambassador.
I had some further discussion of a general and informal kind with Mr. Whitelaw Reid on the subject of the "open door," in the course of which I observed that I thought some of our people wished to press this doctrine so far as to oblige the Japanese to consent to the construction of any number of lines competing with the South Manchurian Railway. I did not think this was a fair construction of the doctrine. It was contrary to the principles of railway construction in all countries.
I am, &c.
(Signed) E. GREY.
[1819 $ma -1]
41
01
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government
24461
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[June 18.] 7 JUL 08
SECTION 1,
(21707)
(No. 186.)
Sir,
No. 1.
Sir Edward Grey to Mr. Bryce.
Foreign Office, June 18, 1908. I TOLD the American Ambassador to-day that I had already spoken to the Japanese Ambassador about the Russian contention at Harbin.
I had explained to the Japanese Ambassador that we had not ourselves raised the question, as British interests were not very materially concerned. But, having been asked our opinion by the United States' Government, we had said that the Russian contention appeared to us to be an extreme interpretation of railway rights, which would constitute an imperium in imperio, and would not be consistent with the integrity of China or the policy of the "open door in Manchuria.
33
I had also told the Japanese Ambassador that we should be prepared, if his Government desired it, to discuss any question of the kind at any time; and that, as the question had been put to us respecting what had taken place at Harbin, I wished his Government to know the opinion which we had expressed."
The Japanese Ambassador had said nothing to lead me to suppose that the Japanese were committed to support the Russian contention or that they differed from the view which I had expressed. All Count Komura had done was to promise to communicate to his Government what I had said. He had not expressed any opinion of his own.
Mr. Whitelaw Reid thanked me for what I had done, and said he was sure Mr. Root would be pleased to know what I had said to the Japanese Ambassador.
I had some further discussion of a general and informal kind with Mr. Whitelaw Reid on the subject of the " open door," in the course of which I observed that I thought some of our people wished to press this doctrine so far as to oblige the Japanese to consent to the construction of any number of lines competing with the South Manchurian Railway. I did not think this was a fair construction of the doctrine. It was contrary to the principles of railway construction in all countries.
I am, &c. (Signed) E. GREY.
[1819 $ma -1]
41
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