[B]
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
0.
67
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[22963]
No. 1.
25071
Res
16 JUL 08
[July 1.]
SECTION 1.
(No. 183.) Sir,
Sir Edward Grey to Mr. O'Beirne.
Foreign Office, July 1, 1908.
I TOLD Count Benckendorff on the 25th ultimo that I wished to speak to him on a subject on which I was not at present making official representations to the Russian Government.
I heard that the Russian Government had put forward a claim that their railway rights in Manchuria, which extended over certain lands near the railway, entitled them not only to use those lands for railway purposes, but also gave the Russian Government practically rights of territorial sovereignty. In the case of Harbin these rights would extend over as much as 47 square miles.
There had been much correspondence on this subject between the Russian Government and the United States' Government.
The United States' Government, with whom we had always acted in close agreement with regard to the policy of the "open door" generally in China, had now put the facts before me, and expressed very strongly their own opinion that the Russian claim to administration and jurisdiction over foreigners in those areas was a strained interpretation of the Railway Concession; that no Railway Concession could be regarded as carrying with it rights of sovereignty and jurisdiction; and that the Russian claim was inconsistent with the "open door" and the integrity of China.
I had replied that in my opinion such a claim as had been described to me would not be consistent with the integrity of China and the "open door." But I had said that we had no Consul at Harbin; that British interests were not directly involved; that I was not aware that there were any British subjects at Harbin, or that the Russian Government had claimed to exercise jurisdiction over any British subjects there; and that I could not take a very active part in the matter till British interests were directly concerned. Should, however, such a claim be put forward farther south, for instance, if the Japanese were to claim the same rights in parts where British trade was greatly concerned, I should have to take up the matter vigorously; and of course I should do so if jurisdiction was actually claimed over any British subjects.
As a matter of fact, I had already said this to the Japanese Ambassador, and I had thought it well to speak to him before I knew his Government to be committed to any such claim.
Just at present, however, when we were constantly discussing questions connected with Persia and Macedonia with the Russian Government, I did not wish to raise any question of controversy unless I was obliged to do so; and I therefore confined myself to telling Count Benckendorff, for his information, what had passed with the United States Government, and the opinion which I had expressed on the general question.
I am, &c. (Signed) E. GREY.
[1841 a-1]
9
38
[B]
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
0.
67
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[22963]
No. 1.
25071
Res
16 JUL 08
[July 1.]
SECTION 1.
(No. 183.) Sir,
Sir Edward Grey to Mr. O'Beirne.
Foreign Office, July 1, 1908. I TOLD Count Benckendorff on the 25th ultimo that I wished to speak to him on a subject on which I was not at present making official representations to the Russian Government.
I heard that the Russian Government had put forward a claim that their railway rights in Manchuria, which extended over certain lands near the railway, entitled them not only to use those lands for railway purposes, but also gave the Russian Government practically rights of territorial sovereignty. In the case of Harbin these rights would extend over as much as 47 square miles.
There had been much correspondence on this subject between the Russian Government and the United States' Government.
The United States' Government, with whom we had always acted in close agreement with regard to the policy of the "open door" generally in China, had now put the facts before me, and expressed very strongly their own opinion that the Russian claim to administration and jurisdiction over foreigners in those areas was a strained interpretation of the Railway Concession; that no Railway Concession could be regarded as carrying with it rights of sovereignty and jurisdiction; and that the Russian claim was inconsistent with the " open door" and the integrity of China.
I had replied that in my opinion such a claim as had been described to me would not be consistent with the integrity of China and the " open door." But I had said that we had no Consul at Harbin; that British interests were not directly involved; that I was not aware that there were any British subjects at Harbin, or that the Russian Government had claimed to exercise jurisdiction over any British subjects there; and that I could not take a very active part in the matter till British interests were directly concerned. Should, however, such a claim be put forward farther south, for instance, if the Japanese were to claim the same rights in parts where British trade was greatly concerned, I should have to take up the matter vigorously; and of course I should do so if jurisdiction was actually claimed over any British subjects.
As a matter of fact, I had already said this to the Japanese Ambassador, and I had thought it well to speak to him before I knew his Government to be committed to any such claim.
Just at present, however, when we were constantly discussing questions connected with Persia and Macedonia with the Russian Government, I did not wish to raise any question of controversy unless I was obliged to do so; and I therefore confined myself to telling Count Benckendorff, for his information, what had passed with the United States Government, and the opinion which I had expressed on the general question.
I am, &c. (Signed) E. GREY.
[1841 a-1]
9
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.