[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
# CHINA RAILWAYS.
## CONFIDENTIAL.
[36806]
### No. 1.
[October 20.]
#### SECTION 1.
Question asked in the House of Commons, October 20, 1908.
Mr. Mitchell-Thomson,—To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the number of dismissals of British employees from the Chinese Northern Railways; whether Article 6 of the Loan Contract of the 10th October, 1898, expressly restricted the right of dismissal to cases of incompetency and misconduct; and what steps His Majesty's Government propose to take, in view of the British financial interests involved in the railways, to prevent the persistent violation of this Article.
Answer.
I am informed that two traffic inspectors on the railway have received notices of dismissal, and Mr. Kinder, the Engineer-in-chief, has protested to the Director against the step, but no official information has reached His Majesty's Minister in China either from Mr. Kinder or from the British and Chinese Corporation as agents of the bondholders. Sir J. Jordan is, however, inquiring into the matter, and as to the bearing of Article 6 of the Loan Contract of the 10th October, 1898, on these cases. The Article in question provides that the principal members of the railway staff may be, in the event of their misconduct or incompetency, dismissed after consultation with the Chief Engineer.
[36807]
### No. 2.
Question asked in the House of Commons, October 20, 1908.
Mr. Mitchell-Thomson, To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information as to the dismissal of the English Principal of the Tong-shan Engineering College without previous reference to the Engineer-in-chief of the Northern Railways; and whether, seeing that the college is maintained from the earnings of a railway mortgaged to British bondholders, he will make inquiry as to the circumstances.
Answer.
The facts of the case are as follows: The Principal of the college was engaged in 1905. By the terms of his engagement three months' notice was to be given by either side to terminate it. About a month ago the Principal received notice under this clause. His Majesty's Minister at Peking has been asked to intervene on the Principal's behalf on the ground that six months' notice is usual, and Sir J. Jordan has appealed to the Director-General of Railways in regard to the case.
The matter is still under consideration.
[1983 u-]
-1]
160
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[36806]
No. 1.
[October 20.]
SECTION 1.
Question asked in the House of Commons, October 20, 1908.
Mr. Mitchell-Thomson,—To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the number of dismissals of British employees from the Chinese Northern Railways; whether Article 6 of the Loan Coutract of the 10th October, 1898, expressly restricted the right of dismissal to cases of incom- petency and misconduct; and what steps His Majesty's Government propose to lake, in view of the British financial interests involved in the railways, to prevent the persistent violation of this Article.
Answer.
I am informed that two traffic inspectors on the railway have received notices of dismissal, aud Mr. Kinder, the Engineer-in-chief, has protested to the Director against the step, but no official information has reached His Majesty's Minister in China either from Mr. Kinder or from the British and Chinese Corporation as agents of the bondholders. Sir J. Jordan is, however, inquiring into the matter, and as to the bearing of Article 6 of the Loan Contract of the 10th October, 1898, on these cases. The Article in question provides that the principal members of the railway staff may be, in the event of their misconduct or incompetency, dismissed after consultation with the Chief Engineer.
[36807]
No. 2.
Question asked in the House of Commons, October 20, 1908.
Mr. Mitchell-Thomson, To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information as to the dismissal of the English Principal of the Tong-shan Engineering College without previous reference to the Engineer-in-chief of the Northern Railways; and whether, seeing that the college is maintained from the earnings of a railway mortgaged to British hondholders, he will make inquiry as
to the circumstances.
Answer.
The facts of the case are as follows: The Principal of the college was engaged in 1905. By the terms of his engagement three months' notice was to be given by either side to terminate it. About a month ago the Principal received notice under this clause. His Majesty's Minister at Peking has been asked to intervene on the Principal's behalf on the ground that six months' notice is usual, and Sir J. Jordan has appealed to the Director-General of Railways in regard to the case.
The matter is still under consideration.
[1983 u-]
-1]
160
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