2
a protracted one. The Board, I understand, retain full confidence in the ability of their Chief Engineer to carry out the work which he has undertaken, and he himself, in spite of the prognostications of M. Schellhoss and other jealous critics, is equally sanguine of final success.
I have, &c. (Signed) F. E. WILKINSON,
{This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government
133
40052
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[34988]
No. 1.
[October 9
SECTION 1.
-2 NOV 08:
Sir,
British and Chinese Corporation to Foreign Office.~(Received October 9.)
3, Lombard Street, London, October 8, 1908. CANTON-KOWLOON Railway: Consulting Engineers and Engineer-in-chief. Mr. Bland, our representative in China, informs us that at the interview which you were so good as to accord to him recently, when he submitted the text of a telegram the Corporation had received from its agents in Hong Kong (copy for reference annexed hereto), and the text of the reply which he suggested the Board should make, it was arranged we were to forward to you a copy of the reply as soon as authorized by the Board and dispatched.
Accordingly we beg leave to inform you that we have telegraphed to Messrs. Jardine, Matheson, and Co., Hong Kong, to-day as follows:-
"Referring to your telegram of the 21st, after consulting the Foreign Office, Board of Directors are of opinion it is inadvisable contest appointment Jeme Tien Yow, but it should be clearly understood that powers and responsibility of Engineer-in-chief, as defined Article 6, Loan Agreement, are not to be affected thereby. It is to be remembered it has been agreed between the Board of Communications and the British Minister, Sir J. Wolfe Barry and A. J. Barry also appointed Consulting Engineers, conditions similar to Consulting Engineers Northern Railways. With regard to procedure for reference to Corporation's representative and Director-General, Peking, this is required by Article 6 where Engineer-in-chief and Managing Director cannot agree.
"Bland leaving Moscow 21st October."
We beg leave to express the hope that Sir E. Grey may be pleased to inform His Majesty's Minister at Peking that he approves of the views expressed in the telegram, and to request His Majesty's Minister to support the independence of the Engineer-in-chief within the terms of the Loan Agreement.
We are, &c.
The British and Chinese Corporation (Limited),
(Signed) W. KESWICK, Chairman.
Inclosure in No. 1.
Messrs. Jardine, Matheson, and Co. to British and Chinese Corporation,
(Telegraphic.)
Hong Kong, September 21, 1908. REFERRING to our telegram of the 25th, referring to your telegram of the 26th August, learned to-day from G. A. Robertson that appointment Jeme Tien Yow as Consulting Engineer was officially notified to J. O. P. Bland on the 10th July, who acquiesced in, but apparently omitted to advise us.
Liang Shih Yi expresses indignation that we refuse to recognize appointment, and has instructed Managing Director of Engineer-in-chief of in the future must only deal with your Peking representative not with us. Evident object of this is transfer of control of from the Managing Director of Engineer-in-chief of to the Board of Communications which we regard as fatal to interests Canton-Kowloon Railway. Suggest that you notify Liang Shih Yi through the British Minister without delay that all matters concerning Canton-Kowloon Railway must be dealt with through us, Peking representative merely acting occasionally as a convenient medium. We consider this is of the utmost importance.
[1983 i-1]
2
a protracted one. The Board, I understand, retain full confidence in the ability of their Chief Engineer to carry out the work which he has undertaken, and he himself, in spite of the prognostications of M. Schellhoss and other jealous critics, is equally sanguine of final success.
I have, &c. (Signed) F. E. WILKINSON,
{This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government
133
40052
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[34988]
No. 1.
[October 9
SECTION 1.
-2 NOV 08:
Sir,
British and Chinese Corporation to Foreign Office.~(Received October 9.)
3, Lombard Street, London, October 8, 1908. CANTON-KOWLOON Railway: Consulting Engineers and Engineer-in-chief. Mr. Bland, our representative in China, informs us that at the interview which you were so good as to accord to him recently, when he submitted the text of a telegram the Corporation had received from its agents in Hong Kong (copy for reference annexed hereto), and the text of the reply which he suggested the Board should make, it was arranged we were to forward to you a copy of the reply as soon as authorized by the Board and dispatched.
Accordingly we beg leave to inform you that we have telegraphed to Messrs. Jardine, Matheson, and Co., Hong Kong, to-day as follows:-
"Referring to your telegram of the 21st, after consulting the Foreign Office, Board of Directors are of opinion it is inadvisable contest appointment Jeme Tien Yow, but it should be clearly understood that powers and responsibility of Engineer-in-chief, as defined Article 6, Loan Agreement, are not to be affected thereby. It is to be remem- hered it has been agreed between the Board of Communications and the British Minister, Sir J. Wolfe Barry and A. J. Barry also appointed Consulting Engineers, conditions similar to Consulting Engineers Northern Railways. With regard to procedure for reference to Corporation's representative and Director-General, Peking, this is required by Article 6 where Engineer-in-chief and Managing Director cannot agree.
"Bland leaving Moscow 21st October."
We beg leave to express the hope that Sir E. Grey may be pleased to inform His Majesty's Minister at Peking that he approves of the views expressed in the telegram, and to request His Majesty's Minister to support the independence of the Engineer-in- chief within the terms of the Loan Agreement.
We are, &c.
The British and Chinese Corporation (Limited),
(Signed) W. KESWICK, Chairman.
Inclosure in No. 1.
Messrs. Jardine, Matheson, and Co. to British and Chinese Corporation,
(Telegraphic.)
Hong Kong, September 21, 1908. REFERRING to our telegram of the 25th, referring to your telegram of the 26th August, learned to-day from G. A. Robertson that appointment Jeme Tien Yow as Consulting Engineer was officially notified to J. O. P. Bland on the 10th July, who acquiesced in, but apparently omitted to advise us.
Liang Shih Yi expresses indignation that we refuse to recognize appointment, and has instructed Managing Director of Engineer-in-chief of in the future must only deal with your Peking representative not with us. Evident object of this is transfer of control of from the Managing Director of Engineer-in-chief of to the Board of Communi- cations which we regard as fatal to interests Canton-Kowloon Railway. Suggest that you notify Liang Shih Yi through the British Minister without delay that all matters concerning Canton-Kowloon Railway must be dealt with through us, Peking represen- We consider this is of the tative merely acting occasionally as a convenient medium. utmost importance.
[1983 i-1]
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