This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
222
C.O.
42178
[October 21.]
SECTION 1. 17 NOV 08
[36623]
No. 1.
British and Chinese Corporation to Foreign Office.-(Received October 21.)
Sir,
3, Lombard Street, London, October 20, 1908.
According to the information of Mr. Bland, our representative in Peking, there appears to be no doubt that on the 15th April, 1908, the Yuchuanpu obtained the Imperial sanction to a Memorial (copy herewith) by which it transferred to the Provincial Railway Bureaus its obligation to build the Shanghae-Hangehow-Ningpo Railway, which obligation, by the Loan Agreement, was definitely accepted by the Yuchuanpu on behalf of the Imperial Chinese Government. And, according to Mr. Bland's information, the Memorial was submitted to the Throne on the 6th March, 1908, the same day as the Loan Agreement was signed with the Corporation.
Although Mr. Bland reported this information to His Majesty's Minister, the directors of the British and Chinese Corporation consider it desirable that they should themselves address Sir E. Grey on the subject, and we therefore beg leave to request that this letter may be submitted to Sir E. Grey, and to express the hope that he may be pleased to communicate with Sir J. Jordan on the subject.
In connection with the foregoing, we venture to quote a letter, dated the 1st instant, which we have received from our agents in Shanghae:—
"The present position of this railway is that, beyond the nominal appointment of a Managing Director and an Engineer-in-chief, no progress has been made towards giving effect to the terms of the Loan Agreement.
"Taotai Shih Chao Tseng (Sze) poses as the Managing Director, but we cannot satisfy ourselves that he really holds any authority from Peking, and, while the Chekiang Railway Company has accepted him somewhat under protest, and treat him as an inferior, the Kiangsu Railway Company has refused to recognize him at all.
"Taotai Shih Chao Tseng, who formerly was a contractor on the Lu-han line, appears a reasonable person to deal with, and if he were less of a nonentity in his present position some progress might be made.
"Mr. Foord's Agreement has not yet been signed, and, although the Chekiang Railway Company appears prepared to accept him, it does so more in the light of a Consulting Engineer than an Engineer-in-chief, and it is evidently not the present intention to allow Mr. Foord to interfere in the construction of the line more than possible. The Kiangsu Railway Company has, so far, not taken any notice of Mr. Foord.
"No loan funds have yet been paid over by the Board of Communications, but as that Board undertakes (vide Edict of the 15th April) to pay a first instalment of 800,000 taels to the Railway Companies before the 6th instant, some developments may shortly be expected."
We are, &c.
Per the British and Chinese Corporation (Limited),
(Signed) W. KESWICK, Chairman.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Kiangsu and Chekiang Railway Companies: Memorial submitted by the Board of Posts and Communications on April 15 proposing Regulations with reference to the Loan of Funds by the Board to the Companies.
(Translation.)
On the 6th March a joint Memorial was submitted by the Board of Communications and the Wai-wu Pu, proposing that a loan should be made by the Board to the
*
According to Taotai Shih the Agreement was signed by Mr. Foord before August 17 (see 31982.)
[1988 a-1]
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
222
C.0.
42178
[October 21.]
1:|:ཀ ན ཝ SECTION 1. 17 NOV 08
[36623]
No. 1.
British and Chinese Corporation to Foreign Office.-(Received October 21.)
Sir,
3, Lombard Street, London, October 20, 1908. ACCORDING to the information of Mr. Bland, our representative in Peking, there appears to be no doubt that on the 15th April, 1908, the Yuchuanpu obtained the Imperial sanction to a Memorial (copy herewith) by which it transferred to the Provincial Railway Bureaus its obligation to build the Shanghae-Hangehow-Ningpo Railway, which obligation, by the Loan Agreement, was definitely accepted by the Yuchuanpu on behalf of the Imperial Chinese Government. And, according to Mr. Bland's information, the Memorial was submitted to the Throne on the 6th March, 1908, the same day as the Loan Agreement was signed with the Corporation.
Although Mr. Bland reported this information to His Majesty's Minister, the directors of the British and Chinese Corporation consider it desirable that they should themselves address Sir E. Grey on the subject, and we therefore beg leave to request that this letter may be submitted to Sir E. Grey, and to express the hope that he may be pleased to communicate with Sir J. Jordan on the subject,
In connection with the foregoing, we venture to quote a letter, dated the 1st instant, which we have received from our agents in Shangliae :—
"The present position of this railway is that, beyond the nominal appointment of a Managing Director and au Engineer-in-chief, no progress has been made towards giving effect to the terms of the Loan Agreement.
"Taotai Shih Chao Tseng (Sze) poses as the Managing Director, but we cannot satisfy ourselves that he really holds any authority from Peking, and, while the Chekiang Railway Company has accepted him somewhat under protest, and treat him far refused to recognize as an inferior, the Kiangsu Railway Company has so him at all.
"Taotai Shih Chao Tseng, who formerly was a contractor on the Lu-han line, appears a reasonable person to deal with, and if he were less of a nonentity in his present position some progress might be made.
"Mr. Foord's Agreement has not yet been signed, and, although the Chekiang Railway Company appears prepared to accept him, it does so more in the light of a Consulting Engineer than an Engineer-in-chief, and it is evidently not the present intention to allow Mr. Foord to interfere in the construction of the line more than possible. The Kiangsu Railway Company has, so far, not taken any notice of Mr. Foord.
"No loan funds have yet been paid over to (by) the Board of Communications, but as that Board undertake (vide Edict of the 15th April) to pay a first instalment of 800,000 taels to the Railway Companies before the 6th instant, some developments may shortly be expected."
We are, &c.
Per the British and Chinese Corporation (Limited),
(Signed) W. KESWICK, Chairman.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Kiangsu and Chékiang Railway Companies: Memorial submitted by the Board of Posts and Communications on April 15 proposing Regulations with reference to the Loun of Funds by the Board to the Companies.
(Translation.)
ON the 6th March a joint Memorial was submitted by the Board of Communica- tions and the Wai-wu Pu, proposing that a loan should be made by the Board to the
*
According to Taotai Shih the Agreement was signed by Mr. Foord before August 17 (see 31982.)
[1988 a-1]
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