C.0.
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government,
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[206]
No. 1.
[June 15 JUL 08
SECTION 6.
Mr. Whitelaw Reid to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received June 15.)
(Confidential.) Sir,
American Embassy, London, June 13, 1908. WITH reference to my conversation with you at the Foreign Office on the 12th instant, and my subsequent informal note of the 13th, relating to the state of affairs in Manchuria, I have the honour to inclose herewith certain papers alluded to in the latter, which include a copy of the Russian Memorandum, dated at Washington on the 4th February last; Mr. Root's reply thereto of the 9th April (a copy of which was given to the Japanese Ambassador by Mr. Root in the course of an informal discussion of the subject at the State Department); and the informal exposition of the views of the Japanese Government received from the Japanese Ambassador at Washington on the 23rd April last; and also a Memorandum on the Treaty rights of American citizens in China, conveyed by the Secretary of State to the Japanese Ambassador on the 12th May, together with a copy of a despatch, dated the 15th April, from our Consul at Harbin.
I venture to explain that these papers are sent as of possible interest in making quite clear the views and actions of my Government in connection with the Harbin incident.
I have, &c. (Signed)
WHITELAW REID.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Memorandum.
THE Chinese Government has just lodged a protest both with the Imperial Russian authorities and the American and Japanese Consuls at Harbin against the contemplated establishment by the Eastern Chinese Railway Company of a municipal administration at Harbin and Hailar. While the Japanese Consul is favourably disposed towards the reform, the Consul of the United States, taking the Chinese side of the question, appears to disapprove of the land grant being put under the administration of the railway. This attitude of the American Consul is all the more incomprehensible, as it appears from the exchange of views on this point between the Minister of Russia and the Representative of the United States at Peking that the Federal Government has not yet taken a determined stand regarding the Russian administrative measures in those ports, and that the Consul is acting upon his own initiative.
Now, the Imperial Government is of opinion that in this matter the Railway Company is but exercising rights which belong to it under the Concession granted by China for the construction of the railroad track. The measure under consideration has furthermore no other object than that of regulating living conditions on the territory granted to the railway, and merely meets the requirements of the population, including the foreigners whose rights are in no wise affected by the establishment of a municipal administration.
This is the reason why the Imperial Government entertains the hope that the Federal Government will share its views on this question, and will be good enough to send suitable instructions to its Representative at Peking. It would be especially desirable that the Consul of the United States at Harbin be directed to declare, in reply to the Chinese communication, that his Government does not wish to meddle in this matter.
Imperial Embassy of Russia, Washington, D.C., February 4, 1908.
[1819 p-6]
55
C.0.
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government,
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[206]
No. 1.
[June 15 JUL 08
SECTION 6.
Mr. Whitelaw Reid to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received June 15.)
(Confidential.) Sir,
American Embassy, London, June 13, 1908. WITH reference to my conversation with you at the Foreign Office on the 12th instant, and my subsequent informal note of the 13th, relating to the state of affairs in Manchuria, I have the honour to inclose herewith certain papers alluded to in the latter, which include a copy of the Russian Memorandum, dated at Washington on the 4th February last; Mr. Root's reply thereto of the 9th April (a copy of which was given to the Japanese Ambassador by Mr. Root in the course of an informal discussion of the subject at the State Department); and the informal exposition of the views of the Japanese Govern- ment received from the Japanese Ambassador at Washington on the 23rd April last; and also a Memorandum on the Treaty rights of American citizens in China, conveyed by the Secretary of State to the Japanese Ambassador on the 12th May, together with a copy of a despatch, dated the 15th April, from our Consul at Harbin.
I venture to explain that these papers are sent as of possible interest in making quite clear the views and actions of my Government in connection with the Harbin incident.
I have, &c. (Signed)
WHITELAW REID.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Memorandum.
THE Chinese Government has just lodged a protest both with the Imperial Russian authorities and the American and Japanese Consuls at Harbin against the contemplated establishment by the Eastern Chinese Railway Company of a municipal administration at Harbin and Hailar. While the Japanese Consul is favourably disposed towards the reform, the Consul of the United States, taking the Chinese side of the question, appears to disapprove of the land grant being put under the administration of the railway. This attitude of the American Consul is all the more incomprehensible, as it appears from the exchange of views of this point between the Minister of Russia and the Repre- sentative of the United States at Peking that the Federal Government has not yet taken a determined stand regarding the Russian administrative measures in those ports, and that the Consul is acting upon his own initiative.
Now, the Imperial Government is of opinion that in this matter the Railway Company is but exercising rights which belong to it under the Concession granted by China for the construction of the railroad track. The measure under consideration has furthermore no other object than that of regulating living conditions on the territory granted to the railway, and merely meets the requirements of the population, including the foreigners whose rights are in no wise affected by the establishment of a municipal administration.
This is the reason why the Imperial Government entertains the hope that the Federal Government will share its views on this question, and will be good enough to send suitable instructions to its Representative at Peking. It would be especially desirable that the Consul of the United States at Harbin be directed to declare, in reply to the Chinese communication, that his Government does not wish to meddle in this matter.
Imperial Embassy of Russia, Washington, D.C., February 4, 1908.
[1819 p-6]
B
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.