at the other Treaty ports in China; that, for particular reasons, it was not considered advisable for the Russian Government to declare the true status of the Railway Company when it was created, but that its actual status had been recently made known, and he thought that no one could now deny that it was a political body; this could be plainly seen in the fact that it was officered by Russian Generals and other officials in the service of the Russian Government. When three Governments, Russia, Japan, and China, were parties to such a matter as the original Agreement for the construction of the Chinese Eastern Railway Company in Manchuria, there could be no doubt that the respective interests of Russia and Japan were of an official nature. Japan now being a party to the original Agreement, is entitled to all its benefits. Regarding the municipal administration of Harbin, he stated that it appeared that the suggestions of the United States' Government as to the adjustment of this question were impracticable. It was true that the Railway Company, or rather, the Russian Government, had failed to announce its special rights in the town of Harbin at the time the place was declared open to international trade and residence by China, but that was a minor matter which he expected to adjust after his arrival at Peking. He said he realized that the work before him was difficult, as the Chinese Government was now endeavouring to evade the terms of the unfavourable Agreement it made, which gave the Railway Company such extensive rights, but he hoped I would not take any action here that would tend to embarrass him in the adjustment of the questions connected with the situation here, and in his efforts to improve the economical conditions in Harbin in particular, and in all North Manchuria in general.
To his remarks I replied that I had no desire whatever to interfere with the rights of the Russian Government here, but on the other hand sincerely wished that he might be able to arrive at an early settlement of those questions, as at present the situation here appeared to be very inconvenient to everybody. As regards the status of the Railway Company, I had been assured by General Groubchevsky, the former chief of its civil affairs, that it was private, and I believed that the views of the United States' Government on that subject had already been expressed to the Russian Ambassador at Washington. He would, of course, understand that in my position here I must be guided by the different Treaties, including our own, bearing on the situation, of which I was informed. Being accredited to China I could not take any action that would be offensive to that Government, as regards matters of administration, &c., or that would interfere in any way with the measures that China might wish to take for the general development of Manchuria. I assured him that I had no wish to do anything that would embarrass him in adjusting these questions in fairness to all, and I hoped he would urge upon the Russian railway guard, and other local officials, the importance of respecting our Treaty rights and the principles of exterritoriality, the latter of which were long established, and were matters of which the different nations were very sensitive. I called his attention to the recent case of Mr. Harry Roeper (see my despatch No. 46, dated the 29th August, 1908). I also said that in my opinion the natural officer with whom other nationals expected to deal in matters in which Russian interests were involved was the Russian Consular Representative. The Railway Company could not be treated with in such matters, as it had no authority to take them up owing to its status.
If, as reported, General Horvat, the present Superintendent of the Eastern Chinese Railway Company, is to be appointed Russian Consul-General here, it is to be earnestly hoped that the Chinese Government will insist upon the principle that he give up the superintendence and all other direct connection with the affairs of that Company. With these two offices combined in one person it would be more difficult than ever for the other Consular Representatives here to deal with matters with which Russian interests are connected. Under cover of the superintendence of the Railway Company he would assume functions and take action in various official matters that a Consul-General alone would not be warranted in taking. The tendency would be to work towards a colonial governorship. It is reported that General Chichagoff, the present Commander of the railway guard in Manchuria, will soon retire, and that General Horvat, will also take over the command of those troops, numbering about 25,000.
The Railway Company's administration over Harbin, referred to in my despatches No. 20 of the 30th December last, No. 23 of the 24th January last, et seq., has been installed, so far as Russian subjects and interests are concerned. Many of the other nationals whose interests are connected with the Railway Company or are catering to Russian trade have voluntarily submitted to its authority and have paid their taxes, but others who have declined to recognize it are conducting their business without interference. Although the local Chinese authorities have assured me that they have instructed all Chinese subjects doing business in Harbin not to pay the taxes to the Administration, or to take out business licences, I am informed that practically all Chinese have paid the taxes.
As regards the other Governments, they appear to have taken but little interest in the situation here, and will probably not oppose any action that the Railway Company, or, in other words, the Russian Government, sees fit to take.
Other than the Japanese Consul-General, who is actively supporting the Railway Company in its administration here, the French Government has a Consular Agent here, who is also an officer of the Russo-Chinese Bank, and therefore finds it to his personal interest to support the Railway; the Belgian Government has an honorary Vice-Consul, who is a commission merchant for contract supplies to the Railway Company; and the Austro-Hungarian Government will shortly appoint an honorary Consul who is also a commission merchant and contractor for railway supplies. The French and Austro-Hungarian Governments have recognized the Railway's administration over Harbin, with the proviso that their Treaty rights are not surrendered.
I have, &c. (Signed) FRED. D. FISHER,
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
American Consul.
Extract from the "Daveti Val," a daily Russian newspaper of Harbin, August 14 (27), 1908.
(Translation.)
WE have been informed that the duties of an independent Russian Consul-General in Harbin will be abolished and these duties united with those of the Manager of the Eastern Chinese Railway, General Horvat. M. Luba (the present Consul-General) is to be superannuated and removed to a new post. In conjunction with this arrangement a new office will be established, ..., an adviser with the Consulate, to which office it is expected that Prince Meschersky the Vice-Consul at Kuanchengizu, will be appointed. The new arrangement, we think, will greatly help to put in better order Russian affairs in Manchuria. It will establish one authority and abolish the present dual prejudicial one.
Page 359
2
at the other Treaty ports in China; that, for particular reasons, it was not considered advisable for the Russian Government to declare the true status of the Railway Company when it was created, but that its actual status had been recently inade known, and he thought that no one could now deny that it was a political body; this could be plainly seen in the fact that it was officered by Russian Generals and other officials in the service of the Russian Government. When three Governments, Russia, Japan, and China, were parties to such a matter as the original Agreement for the construction of the Chinese Eastern Railway Company in Manchuria, there could be no doubt that the respective interests of Russia and Japan were of an official nature. Japan now being a party to the original Agreement, is entitled to all its benefits. Regarding the municipal administration of Harbin, he stated that it appeared that the suggestions of the United States' Government as to the adjustment of this question were impracticable. It was true that the Railway Company, or rather, the Russian Government, had failed to announce its special rights in the town of Harbin at the time the place was declared open to international trade and residence by China, but that was a minor matter which he expected to adjust after his arrival at Peking. He said he realized that the work before him was difficult, as the Chinese Government was now endeavouring to evade the terms of the unfavourable Agreement it made, which gave the Railway Company such extensive rights, but he hoped I would not take any action here that would tend to embarrass him in the adjustment of the questions connected with the situation here, and in his efforts to improve the economical conditions in Harbin in particular, and in all North Manchuria in general.
To his remarks I replied that I had no desire whatever to interfere with the rights of the Russian Government here, but on the other hand sincerely wished that he might be able to arrive at an early settlement of those questions, as at present the situation here appeared to be very inconvenient to everybody. As regards the status of the Railway Company, I had been assured by General Groubchevsky, the former chief of its civil affairs, that it was private, and I believed that the views of the United States' Government on that subject had already been expressed to the Russiau Ambassador at Washington. He would, of course, understand that in my position here I must be guided by the different Treaties, including our own, bearing on the situation, of which I was informed. Being accredited to China I could not take any action that would be offensive to that Government, as regards matters of administration, &c., or that would interfere in any way with the measures that China might wish to take for the general development of Manchuria. I assured him that I had no wish to do anything that would embarrass him in adjusting these questions in fairness to all, and I hoped he would urge upon the Russian railway guard, and other local officials, the importance of respecting our Treaty rights and the principles of exterritoriality, the latter of which were long established, and were matters of which the different nations were very sensitive. I called his attention to the recent case of Mr. Harry Roeper (see my despatch No. 46, dated the 29th August, 1908). I also said that in my opinion the natural officer with whom other nationals expected to deal in matters in which Russian interests were involved was the Russian Consular Representative. The Railway Company could not be treated with in such matters, as it had no authority to take them up owing to its status.
If, as reported, General Horvat, the present Superintendent of the Eastern Chinese Railway Company, is to be appointed Russian Consul-General here, it is to be earnestly hoped that the Chinese Government will insist upon the principle that he give up the superintendence and all other direct connection with the affairs of that Company. With these two offices combined in one person it would be more difficult than ever for the other Consular Representatives here to deal with matters with which Russian interests are connected. Under cover of the superintendence of the Railway Company he would assume functions and take action in various official matters that a Consul-General alone would not be warranted in taking. The tendency would be to work towards a colonial governorship. It is reported that General Chichagoff, the present Commander of the railway guard in Manchuria, will soon retire, and that General Horvat, will also take over the command of those troops, numbering about 25,000.
The Railway Company's administration over Harbin, referred to in my despatches No. 20 of the 30th December last, No. 23 of the 24th January last, et seq., has been installed, so far as Russian subjects and interests are concerned. Many of the other nationals whose interests are connected with the Railway Company or are catering to Russian trade bave voluntarily submitted to its authority and have paid their taxes, but others who have declined to recognize it are conducting their business without inter- ference. Although the local Chinese authorities have assured me that they have
3
instructed all Chinese subjects doing business in Harbin not to pay the taxes to the Administration, or to take out business licences, I am informed that practically all Chinese have paid the taxes.
As regards the other Governments, they appear to have taken but little interest in the situation here, and will probably not oppose any action that the Railway Company, or, in other words, the Russian Government, sees fit to take.
Other than the Japanese Consul-General, who is actively supporting the Railway Company in its administration here, the French Government has a Consular Agent here, who is also an officer of the Russo-Chinese Bank, and therefore finds it to his personal interest to support the Railway; the Belgian Government has an honorary Vice-Consul, who is a commission merchaut for contract supplies to the Railway Company; and the Austro-Hungarian Government will shortly appoint an honorary Consul who is also a commission merchant and contractor for railway supplies. The French and Austro-Hungariau Governments have recognized the Railway's administra- tion over Harbin, with the proviso that their Treaty rights are not surrendered.
I have, &c. (Signed) FRED. D. FISHER,
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
American Consul.
Extract from the "Daveti Val," a daily Russian newspaper of Harbin, August 14 (27), 1908.
(Translation.)
WE have been informed that the duties of an independent Russian Consul-General in Harbin will be abolished and these duties united with those of the Manager of the Eastern Chinese Railway, General Horvat. M. Luba (the present Consul-General) is to be superannuated and removed to a new post. In conjunction with this arrange- ment a new office will be established, .., an adviser with the Consulate, to which office it is expected that Prince Meschersky the Vice-Consul at Kuanchengizu, will be appointed. The new arrangement, we think, will greatly help to put in better order Russian affairs in Manchuria. It will establish one authority and abolish the present dual prejudicial one.
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