This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government
CONFIDENTIAL.
(38031)
No. 1.
44174
[November 2.]
SECTION 9.
DEC 08
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey-Received November 2.)
(No. 419. Very Confidential.) Sir,
Peking, September 16, 1908.
THE accompanying despatch from the United States' Consul at Harbin, reporting to the Secretary of State at Washington the substance of a conversation which he had with the new Russian Minister regarding the status of the Railway Settlements in Manchuria, has been courteously communicated to me by my American colleague. M. Korostovetz, it will be noticed, took up a very strong position in his remarks to Mr. Fisher, and was not inclined to abate in any way the rights to exclusive jurisdiction which his predecessor had claimed for Russia.
M. Korostovetz touched upon the question in conversation with me a few days ago, and appeared to be less sure of his ground. After some general remarks upon the legacy of trouble which the Eastern Chinese Railway Agreement had bequeathed to Russia, he said he was anxious to come to some understanding on the question of the railway settlements.
He stated that he would be prepared to recommend that their status should be modelled upon that of the various foreign Concessions at the Treaty ports, and he invited an expression of my views.
I said that the friendly criticisms of the Russian scheme which I had made to his predecessor were almost wholly destructive, and that until Russia and China had reconciled their differences with regard to the interpretation of the 1896 Agreement I scarcely felt justified in offering any suggestions of a constructive nature.
I would, however, think over the whole matter, and be glad to talk it over with him later on.
I am sending a copy of this despatch to His Majesty's Ambassador at Tókið.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
I have, &c.
(Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
Mr. Fisher to the Assistant Secretary of State, Washington.
American Consulate, Harbin, August 29, 1908.
IN connection with the recent passage through Harbin to his post of the newly appointed Russian Minister to China, his Excellency J. Korostovetz, I have the honour to inclose herewith a clipping from the "Daveti Val," a daily Russian newspaper of Harbin, issue of the 27th instant, which indicates certain changes of an important nature regarding Russian affairs at this place that are in contemplation.
I am privately informed that, prior to the arrival of M. Korostovetz at Harbin, a conflict arose between M. Luba, the Russian Consul-General, and General Horvat, the Superintendent of the Railway Company, as to who should entertain the Minister while here. The outcome of the matter was that they both met him in a special train at Manchuria Station (the border), from which point M. Luba proceeded to St. Petersburgh, and had it announced there that he had been granted leave, while General Horvat returned with the Minister to Harbin, arriving on the 25th instant. Notwithstanding the fact that two Russian Vice-Consuls are attached to the Consulate-General here, the Minister was presented to most of the officials here and entertained by General Horvat. Up to this date no notifications have been sent out from the Russian Consul-General as to who is in charge.
In an interview that I had with the newly appointed Minister when he called at this Consulate, he indicated the new policy that he evidently hoped to bring in, i.e., that the Chinese Eastern Railway Company was to be considered as an official Russian organ; that it possesses very extensive rights in Harbin; in fact, more extensive than the rights of the different Governments in their respective Concessions or Settlements
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This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government 58
C 0.
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
(38031]
No. 1.
44174
[November 2.]
SECTION 9.
DEC 08
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey-Received November 2.)
(No. 419. Very Confidential.) Sir,
Peking, September 16, 1908. THE accompanying despatch from the United States' Consul at Harbin, reporting to the Secretary of State at Washington the substance of a conversation which he had with the new Russian Minister regarding the status of the Railway Settlements in Manchuria, has been courteously communicated to me by my American colleague. M. Korostovetz, it will be noticed, took up a very strong position in his remarks to Mr. Fisher, and was not inclined to abate in any way the rights to exclusive jurisdiction which his predecessor had claimed for Russia.
M. Korostoretz touched upon the question in conversation with me a few days ago, and appeared to be less sure of his ground. After some general remarks upon the legacy of trouble which the Eastern Chinese Railway Agreement had bequeathed to Russia, he said he was anxious to come to some understanding on the question of the railway settlements.
He stated that he would be prepared to recommend that their status should be modelled upon that of the various foreign Concessions at the Treaty ports, and he invited an expression of my views.
I said that the friendly criticisms of the Russian scheme which I had made to his predecessor were almost wholly destructive, and that until Russia and China had reconciled their differences with regard to the interpretation of the 1896 Agreement I scarcely felt justified in offering any suggestions of a constructive nature.
I would, however, think over the whole matter, and be glad to talk it over with him later on.
Sir,
I am sending a copy of this despatch to His Majesty's Ambassador at Tókið.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
I have, &c.
(Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
Mr. Fisher to the Assistant Secretary of State, Washington.
American Consulate, Hurbin, August 29, 1908.
IN connection with the recent passage through Harbin to his post of the newly appointed Russian Minister to China, his Excellency J. Korostovetz, I have the honour to inclose herewith a clipping from the "Daveti Val," a daily Russian newspaper of Harbin, issue of the 27th instant, which indicates certain changes of an important nature regarding Russian affairs at this place that are in contemplation.
I am privately informed that, prior to the arrival of M. Korostovetz at Harbin, a conflict arose between M. Luba, the Russian Consul-General, and General Horvat, the Superintendent of the Railway Company, as to who should entertain the Minister while here. The outcome of the matter was that they both met bim in a special train at Manchuria Station (the border), from which point M. Luba proceeded to St. Petersburgh, and had it announced there that he had been granted leave, while General Horvat returned with the Minister to Harbin, arriving on the 25th instant. Notwithstanding the fact that two Russian Vice-Consuls are attached to the Consulate-General here, the Minister was presented to most of the officials here and entertained by General Horvat. Up to this date no notifications have been sent out from the Russian Consul-General as to who is in charge.
In an interview that I had with the newly appointed Minister when he called at this Consulate, he indicated the new policy that he evidently hoped to bring in, ie., that the Chinese Eastern Railway Company was to be considered as an official Russiau organ; that it possesses very extensive rights in Harbin; in fact, more extensive than the rights of the different Governments in their respective Concessions or Settlements
[2029 b-9]
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