CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908 — Page 610

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

made by Prince Ch'ing to the British Minister that, failing Chinese capital, the line should be granted to a British Company. This is ample time to demonstrate the futility of expecting that Chinese capital will ever be forthcoming for this extensive work, and the period has arrived when the Chinese Government may be fairly called upon to fulfil its promises. Many changes no doubt have occurred since then, but though some of them may be against us, there is probably one in our favour, and that is that the Chinese Government must realize now the urgent necessity for constructing a trunk line into Szechuan without delay.

There is one other factor in the situation which the Board wish you to consider in conjunction with your colleague, Mr. Casenave, and that is whether we might not receive great assistance from the French Legation at the present moment. Complaints have been made, we understand, by the French Minister, of forays by Chinese troops into Tonquin, and redress demanded. The "Times" correspondent reported that a claim had been preferred for a Railway Concession from Taiyuanfu to the capital of Shensi province, and, though this was denied, it is possible that the French Minister may be in a position to ask for something of the kind as an evidence of good faith. If that should be the case the most natural claim to prefer would be that for the Szechuan railway, on behalf of the Anglo-French combination constituting the Chinese Central Railways. It would be no new claim on the part of the French Legation, as this line has been asked for again and again by the French Minister as well as by the British. It was, indeed, mainly for the purpose of putting an end to the rivalry and competing claims of the two nations in regard to this particular line that the combination was formed, a combination, it may be added, which has the full approval of our respective Governments.

Under all these circumstances the time seems propitious for taking up seriously the question of the Szechuan line, and my directors desire you to take such steps as may seem to you most appropriate for entering on this task. The starting-point might be, as above indicated, the Pukow-Sinyang negotiations, but in regard to that line you will of course use your utmost efforts to carry it through, only yielding if you meet with insuperable difficulties such as you anticipate, and in proportion as the prospects for the Szechuan line improve.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

THOMAS GILBERT

Office or Individual.

foreign

1908

30 text

Last previous Paper.

70.

35762

Sypher tel for thatt Further to Gov. Stracks

26 Oct

Allong cyp tel 12 Nov.

Furthu temats cons

Dhon

103056.9. Lid-3-

2012 W. & 3.1.1-23140-

A500-11-7. 2500-11-07.

Next subsequent Paper,

39411

HONG KONG

STRAITS

No. 35737

(Subject.)

DOMESTIC.

35737

1 00: 08

Apuine Commission

Ask for reply regarding expenses

of bol silicates to

(Minutes.)

It passes

See minutes

on 26166

It is

on this question

difficult to say

anything definite about expenses

when it

The

not settled

(a) what the Commission is

(b) What sort of

to do

the

Colonial delegates will br.

me certain fact is

mentors in

the

that

the unofficial

Straits & Straits King will

both resent being asked to pay anything.

Surely the charges right the tome by Imperial funds.

We must wait the result of

to La. Alates

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2 made by Prince Ch'ing to the British Minister that, failing Chinese capital, the line should be granted to a British Company. This is ample time to demonstrate the futility of expecting that Chinese capital will ever be forthcoming for this extensive work, and the period has arrived when the Chinese Government may be fairly called upon to fulfil its promises. Many changes no doubt have occurred since then, but though some of them may be against us, there is probably one in our favour, and that is that the Chinese Government must realize now the urgent necessity for constructing a trunk line into Szechuan without delay. There is one other factor in the situation which the Board wish you to consider in conjunction with your colleague, Mr. Casenave, and that is whether we might not receive great assistance from the French Legation at the present moment. Complaints have been made, we understand, by the French Minister, of forays by Chinese troops into Tonquin, and redress demanded. The "Times" correspondent reported that a claim had been preferred for a Railway Concession from Taiyuanfu to the capital of Shensi province, and, though this was denied, it is possible that the French Minister may be in a position to ask for something of the kind as an evidence of good faith. If that should be the case the most natural claim to prefer would be that for the Szechuan railway, on behalf of the Anglo-French combination constituting the Chinese Central Railways. It would be no new claim on the part of the French Legation, as this line has been asked for again and again by the French Minister as well as by the British. It was, indeed, mainly for the purpose of putting an end to the rivalry and competing claims of the two nations in regard to this particular line that the combination was formed, a combination, it may be added, which has the full approval of our respective Governments. Under all these circumstances the time seems propitious for taking up seriously the question of the Szechuan line, and my directors desire you to take such steps as may seem to you most appropriate for entering on this task. The starting-point might be, as above indicated, the Pukow-Sinyang negotiations, but in regard to that line you will of course use your utmost efforts to carry it through, only yielding if you meet with insuperable difficulties such as you anticipate, and in proportion as the prospects for the Szechuan line improve. I am, &c. (Signed) THOMAS GILBERT Office or Individual. foreign 1908 30 text Last previous Paper. 70. 35762 Sypher tel for thatt Further to Gov. Stracks 26 Oct Allong cyp tel 12 Nov. Furthu temats cons Dhon 103056.9. Lid-3- 2012 W. & 3.1.1-23140- A500-11-7. 2500-11-07. Next subsequent Paper, 39411 HONG KONG STRAITS No. 35737 (Subject.) DOMESTIC. C 35737 * 1 00: 08 Apuine Commission Ask for reply regarding expenses of bol silicates to (Minutes.) It passes See minutes on 26166 It is on this question difficult to say anything definite about expenses when it The not settled (a) what the Commission is (b) What sort of to do the me Colonial delegates will br. me certain fact is mentors in the that the unofficial Straits & Straits King will both resent being asked to pay anything. Surely the charges right the tome by Imperial funds. We must wait the result of to La. Alates

Baseline (Original)

607 2 made by Prince Ch'ing to the British Minister that, failing Chinese capital, the line should be granted to a British Company. This is ample time to demonstrate the futility of expecting that Chinese capital will ever be forthcoming for this extensive work, and the period has arrived when the Chinese Government may be fairly called upon to fulfil its promises. Many changes no doubt have occurred since then, but though some of them may be against us, there is probably one in our favour, and that is that the Chinese Government must realize now the urgent necessity for constructing a trunk line into Szechuan without delay. There is one other factor in the situation which the Board wish you to consider in conjunction with your colleague, Mr. Casenave, and that is whether we might not receive great assistance from the French Legation at the present moment. Complaints have been made, we understand, by the French Minister, of forays by Chinese troops into Tonquin, and redress demanded. The "Times" correspondent reported that a claim had been preferred for a Railway Concession from Taiyuanfu to the capital of Shensi province, and, though this was denied, it is possible that the French Minister may be in a position to ask for something of the kind as an evidence of good faith. If that should be the case the most natural claim to prefer would be that for the Szechuan railway, on behalf of the Anglo-French combination constituting the Chinese Central Railways. It would be no new claim on the part of the French Legation, as this line has been asked for again and again by the French Minister as well as by the British. It was, indeed, mainly for the purpose of putting an end to the rivalry and competing claims of the two nations in regard to this particular line that the com- bination was formed, a combination, it may be added, which has the full approval of our respective Governments. Under all these circumstances the time seems propitious for taking up seriously the question of the Szechuan line, and my directors desire you to take such steps as may seem to you most appropriate for entering on this task. The starting-point might be, as above indicated, the Pukow-Sinyang negotiations, but in regard to that line you will of course use your utmost efforts to carry it through, only yielding if you meet with insuperable difficulties such as you anticipate, and in proportion as the prospects for the Szechuan line improve. I am, &c. (Signed) THOMAS GILBERT. Office or Individual. foreign 1908 30 text Last previous Paper. 70. 35762 Sypher tel for thatt Further to Gov. Stracks 26 Oct Allong cyp tel 12 Nov. Furthu temats cons Dhon 103056.9. Lid-3- 2012 W. & 3.1.1-23140- A500-11-7. 2500-11-07. Next subsequent Paper, 39411 HONG KONG STRAITS No. 35737 (Subject.) DOMESTIC. C 35737 * 1 00: 08 Apuine Commission Ask for reply regarding expences flesé of bol silicates to (Minutes.) Int passes s See minutes on 26166 It is on this question Sifficult to say anything definite about expenses when it The تھا not settler (a) what the Commission is (6) What sort of to do the me Colonial delegates will br. me certain fact is mentors in the that а al J+ 57.19 the unofficial Straits & Sting King will hoth resent bing asked to pay anything. Surely the charges right the tome by Emperal funds. ? We must wait the result of to La. Alates

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607

There is one other factor in the situation which the Board wish you to consider in conjunction with your colleague, Mr. Casenave, and that is whether we might not receive great assistance from the French Legation at the present moment. Complaints have been made, we understand, by the French Minister, of forays by Chinese troops into Tonquin, and redress demanded. The "Times" correspondent reported that a claim had been preferred for a Railway Concession from Taiyuanfu to the capital of Shensi province, and, though this was denied, it is possible that the French Minister may be in a position to ask for something of the kind as an evidence of good faith. If that should be the case the most natural claim to prefer would be that for the Szechuan railway, on behalf of the Anglo-French combination constituting the Chinese Central Railways. It would be no new claim on the part of the French Legation, as this line has been asked for again and again by the French Minister as well as by the British. It was, indeed, mainly for the purpose of putting an end to the rivalry and competing claims of the two nations in regard to this particular line that the com- bination was formed, a combination, it may be added, which has the full approval of our respective Governments.