2
Art. 7.-Japan undertakes to pay China royalty for private telegrams over Japanese Manchurian land-lines.
Art. 8.-Terminal and transit rates over Japanese Manchurian land-lines to be settled when detailed Convention made.
Dresing says all Articles excepting 5 and 6 are practically agreed: Article 5 Japan demands to be allowed to accept foreign telegrams to places on Japanese system, and Article 6 deals directly with the public. Dresing considers China will have to concede both points. Dresing says two other Conventions or working Agreements will be made, one dealing with traffic over Chefoo cable and other traffic over Sasebo cable.
Regarding the omission of any reference to handling Chinese through telegrams accepted by Japanese railway offices in Manchuria, Dresing says he is afraid to press the point, but intended that such telegrams be sent via Chefoo cable; the Russian Convention prevents transmission via Siberia. Bullard (Extension Company's representative) pointed out that China agreed to laying the Chefoo cable without any provision for the class of traffic to be transmitted. Dresing said this would be dealt with in a working Agreement, but undertook to endeavour to amend the last paragraph of Article 1 to read "all details as to class of traffic and terminal and transit rates," &c.
Dresing later wires that China conceded the said two points, but that Japan agreed to all other Articles and also that the class of traffic dealt with should be the same for Japan as for Russia. Leased lines close to railway reduced to five. He will now negotiate special Conventions in detail.
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[34147]
No. 1.
0.
124
40052
[October 2] NOV 08
SECTION 4.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received October 3.)
(No. 371.) Sir,
Peking, August 19, 1908. In continuation of my despatch No. 337 of the 22nd ultimo, I have the honour to report the issue of a Decree in the name of the Empress-Dowager, which appeared in the "Peking Gazette" of the 22nd ultimo, commanding that the regulations for the election of a Senate (which were inclosed in my previous despatch) should be put into force within twelve months.
In order to accomplish this end, the Provincial authorities are commanded to establish Provincial Assemblies.
The rules under which these Assemblies are to be formed are laid down in a Memorial published on the 24th ultimo, the Emperor's birthday. They provide for the election in each province of an Assembly varying from 30 to 140 members in proportion to the population and the amount of tribute paid to the Imperial Exchequer. The franchise is open to all males over 25 years of age who have taken an academical degree either in China or abroad, or who hold official rank or possess a property qualification of 5,000 dollars (say £500). Revolutionaries, persons who have undergone imprisonment for crime, bankrupts, and opium-smokers are denied the franchise, while all Government officers and employés, civil or military, priests, students, and schoolmasters are precluded from voting.
The representation of the Provincial Assemblies in the Senate is not yet clearly explained; but their duties are set forth in great detail, and comprise the discussion of the provincial Budget and expenditure, taxation and general revenue, public works and enterprises, the supervision of the local-government councils throughout the province, and the responsibility of answering any inquiries addressed to them by the Senate.
Ample provision is, however, made for the control of these Assemblies by the Viceroy or Governor of the province.
The scheme, as far as it is delineated at present, stands therefore as follows: A Senate (Tzu Cheng Yuan) in Peking, Provincial Assemblies (Tzu I Chi) in each provincial capital, and local-government councils in each district or sub-prefecture.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
[1982 c-4]
-4]
2
Art. 7.-Japan undertakes pay China royalty private telegrams over Japanese Manchurian land-lines.
Art. 8.-Terminal and transit rates over Japanese Manchurian land-lines to be settled when detailed Convention made.
Dresing says all Articles excepting 5 and 6 practically agreed: Article 5 Japan demands be allowed accept foreigu telegrams to places Japanese system, and Article 6 direct dealing with public. Dresing considers China will have to concede both points. Dresing says two other Conventions or working Agreements will be made, one dealing with traffic over Chefoo cable and other traffic over Sasebo cable.
Regard omission any reference handing Chinese through telegrams accepted Japanese railway offices Manchuria, Dresing says afraid to press point, but intended such telegrams sent via Chefoo cable Russian Convention prevent transmission viâ Siberia. Bullard (Extension Company's representative) pointed out that China agreeing laying Chefoo cable without any provision class traffic to be transmitted. Dresing said this would be dealt with working Agreement, but undertook endeavour amend last paragraph Article 1 to read "all details as to class of traffic and terminal and transit rates," &c.
Dresing later wires that China conceded said two points, but that Japan agreed all other Articles and also that class of traffic dealt with should be same for Japan as for Russia. Leased lines close railway reduced to five. He will now negotiate special Conventions in details.
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[34147]
No. 1.
0.
124
40052
[October 2 NOV 08
SECTION 4.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received October 3.)
(No. 371.) Sir,
Peking, August 19, 1908. IN continuation of my despatch No. 337 of the 22nd ultimo, I have the honour to report the issue of a Decree in the name of the Empress-Dowager, which appeared in thePeking Gazette" of the 22nd ultimo, commanding that the regulations for the election of a Senate (which were inclosed in my previous despatch) should be put into force within twelve months.
In order to accomplish this end, the Provincial authorities are commanded to establish Provincial Assemblies.
The rules under which these Assemblies are to be formed are laid down in a Memorial published on the 24th ultimo, the Emperor's birthday. They provide for the election in each province of an Assembly varying from 30 to 140 members in proportion to the population and the amount of tribute paid to the Imperial Exchequer. The franchise is open to all males over 25 years of age who have taken an academical degree either in China or abroad, or who hold official rank or possess a property qualification of 5,000 dollars (say 5001.). Revolutionaries, persons who have undergone imprisonment for crime, bankrupts, and opium-smokers are denied the franchise, while all Government officers and employés, civil or military, priests, students, and schoolmasters are precluded from voting.
The representation of the Provincial Assemblies in the Senate is not yet clearly explained; but their duties are set forth in great detail, and comprise the discussion of the provincial Budget and expenditure, taxation and general revenue, public works and enterprises, the supervision of the local-government councils throughout the province, and the responsibility of answering any inquiries addressed to them by the Senate.
Ample provision is, however, made for the control of these Assemblies by the Viceroy or Governor of the province.
The scheme, as far as it is delineated at present, stands therefore as follows: A Senate (Tzu Cheng Yuan) in Peking, Provincial Assemblies (Tzu I Chi) in each provincial capital, and local-government councils in each district or sub-prefecture.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
[1982 c-4
-4]
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