This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
C. O. [October 14.
46052
SECTION 2.
130
[35630]
No. 1
2 NOV 08
(No. 422.) Sir,
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey,—(Received October 14.)
Peking, September 21, 1908. WITH reference to previous correspondence on the subject of the Whangpoo conservancy scheme, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith copies of despatches from His Majesty's Acting Consul-General at Shanghae dealing with certain accusations which have been made against the Dutch firm of contractors who are carrying out the dredging operations.
These accusations rested upon the mode of procedure with regard to the measurements of the mud which had been dredged, but, according to the later of Mr. Wilkinson's despatches, the system in operation would appear to be in accordance with the terms of the contractors' agreement, although, until the proposed inquiry has taken place, it is not possible to state positively that no frauds have been committed.
Mr. Ku Hung Ming, the author of the charges, is a person of impetuous temperament, whose statements have generally to be accepted with a considerable degree of reserve.
I have, &c. (Signed)
J. N. JORDAN.
(No. 86.) Sir,
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Acting Consul-General Wilkinson to Sir J. Jordan.
Shanghae, September 10, 1908. PUBLICITY having been given in the local press to certain allegations which have been made against the Dutch firm of contractors who are carrying out the dredging operations in connection with the Whangpoo conservancy scheme, I have the honour to report to you the facts as far as I have been able to ascertain them.
The first intimation received at this Consulate-General that the work of the contractors was not giving entire satisfaction to all the members of the Conservancy Board was conveyed to Sir Pelham Warren by Mr. Ku Hung Ming, the Viceroy's nominee on the Board, who called at this office some six weeks ago and informed Sir Pelham Warren that he had evidence to show that by false returns of the amount of soil raised by their dredgers the contractors were defrauding the Chinese Government to the extent of 40,000 dollars a-month. The charge was one which should be subjected, he thought, to the strictest investigation, and he requested Sir Pelham Warren's official support in insisting on an inquiry. In proof of his allegations Mr. Ku Hung Ming produced signed statements by certain employés and ex-employés of the Board which purported to show that grave irregularities were being committed. Mr. Ku Hung Ming also informed Sir Pelham Warren that a Mr. Drakeford, an overseer on one of the dredgers and a British subject, who had refused to countenance the fraud on the Chinese Government, had been assaulted by one of the contractors' Dutch employés and thrown overboard, and that when complaint was made at the Netherland Consulate the Dutch Consul-General, to prevent, it would appear, any unwelcome disclosures, had declined to allow proceedings to be taken in his Court against Mr. Drakeford's assailant.
Sir Pelham Warren, in reply, advised Mr. Ku Hung Ming to lay the evidence he had obtained before his colleagues on the Board, whose duty it was to investigate such charges, and who, if they considered them to be substantiated, were bound to hold an inquiry. This advice Mr. Ku Hung Ming appears to some extent to have followed, but he refused, I understand, to produce the written evidence on which he bases his allegations. In any case the Taotai, with whom he is on very bad terms, declined to take his charges seriously, whereupon Mr. Ku Hung Ming went up to Nanking and laid them before the Viceroy, including, furthermore, in his indictment his colleagues the Taotai and the Commissioner. The Viceroy, on hearing his report, at once sent
[1982 0-2
-2]
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
C. O. [October 14.1
46052
SECTION 2.
130
[35630]
No. 1
2 NOV 08
(No. 422.) Sir,
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey,—(Received October 14.)
Peking, September 21, 1908. WITH reference to previous correspondence on the subject of the Whangpoo conservancy scheme, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith copies of despatches from His Majesty's Acting Consul-General at Shanghae dealing with certain accusations which have been made against the Dutch firm of contractors who are carrying out the dredging operations.
These accusations rested upon the mode of procedure with regard to the measure- ments of the mud which had been dredged, but, according to the later of Mr. Wilkinson's despatches, the system in operation would appear to be in accordance with the terms of the contractors' agreement, although, until the proposed inquiry has taken place, it is not possible to state positively that no frauds have been committed.
Mr. Ku Hung Ming, the author of the charges, is a person of impetuous temperament, whose statements have generally to be accepted with a considerable degree of reserve.
I have, &c. (Signed)
J. N. JORDAN.
(No. 86.) Sir,
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Acting Consul-General Wilkinson to Sir J. Jordon.
Shanghae, September 10, 1908. PUBLICITY having been given in the local press to certain allegations which have been made against the Dutch firm of contractors who are carrying out the dredging operations in connection with the Whangpoo conservancy scheme, I have the honour to report to you the facts as far as I have been able to ascertain them.
The first intimation received at this Consulate-General that the work of the contractors was not giving entire satisfaction to all the members of the Conservancy Board was conveyed to Sir Pelham Warren by Mr. Ku Hung Ming, the Viceroy's nominee on the Board, who called at this office some six weeks ago and informed Sir Pelham Warren that he had evidence to show that by false returns of the amount of soil raised by their dredgers the contractors were defrauding the Chinese Government to the extent of 40,000 dollars a-month. The charge was one which should be subjected, he thought, to the strictest investigation, and he requested Sir Pelbam Warren's official support in insisting on an inquiry. In proof of his allegations Mr. Ku Hung Ming produced signed statements by certain employés and ex-employés of the Board which purported to show that grave irregularities were being committed. Mr. Ku Hung Ming also informed Sir Pelham Warren that a Mr. Drakeford, an overseer on one of the dredgers and a British subject, who had refused to countenance the fraud on the Chinese Government, had been assaulted by one of the contractors' Dutch employés and thrown overboard, and that when complaint was made at the Netherland Cousulate the Dutch Consul-General, to prevent, it would appear, any unwelcome disclosures, had declined to allow proceedings to be taken in his Court against Mr. Drakeford's assailant.
Sir Pelham Warren, in reply, advised Mr. Ku Hung Ming to lay the evidence he bad obtained before his colleagues on the Board, whose duty it was to investigate such charges, and who, if they considered them to be substantiated, were bound to hold an inquiry. This advice Mr. Ku Hung Ming appears to some extent to have followed, bot he refused, I understand, to produce the written evidence on which he bases his allegations. In any case the Taotai, with whom he is on very bad terms, declined to take his charges seriously, whereupon Mr. Ku Hung Ming went up to Nanking and laid then atter before the Viceroy, including, furthermore, in his indictment his colleagues the Taotai and the Commissioner. The Viceroy, on hearing his report, at once sent
[1982 0-2
-2]
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.