CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909 — Page 101

6

(Translation.)

Inclosure 6 in No. 1.

Telegram from Chang Chih-Tung, dated October 10, 1908.

FROM your two telegrams of the 7th October, I understand that you propose to appoint the representative of the British and Chinese Corporation to come to Peking to negotiate orally. Who is it who is sent, and when may he be expected?

This line must within four years be continued to the Kuangtung border. To secure speed it is imperative to push on the laying down of the railway trace connecting Ilunan and that province, starting from Chu-Chou and ending at Lo-Ch'ang, in Kuangtung, viâ Hêng-Chou, Chiên-Chou, and Ichang, and it is equally necessary as soon as possible to determine the proper number of sections on which work should begin simultaneously. St. George Moore, being a waterworks engineer, could never undertake the job, and Ross also is probably not the right man. I

propose from London

to engage an engineer of the best qualifications and greatest experience, to serve as Engineer-in-chief, and I beg you will promptly recommend me one, so that an agreement may be made with him and everything arranged at an early date. Anxiously awaiting, &c.

But there is no possibility of gratifying his desire for money just at present, and it may perhaps be just as well that he should be kept waiting a little, as the easy terms on which the last loan was raised for the repurchase of a paying concern are not likely to be repeated in raising funds for fresh construction. There was not, so far as we know, any idea of including Chang's projected loan in the one signed on the 8th instant, and the "suggestion," if it was even made, must, I think, have emanated from Chang himself. However, Bland is due here on the 2nd November, and Chang's suspense will not be of long duration,

Bourne has the first claim for any appointment that may be offering, and you were quite right to mention his name, although I hope Chang will relent in his intention to supersede Moore. Bourne might be usefully employed later on, either for the Szechuan line or for the Hunan section of the Hankow-Canton one.

Somehow, I feel that we have turned the corner in the Hankow-Canton negotiations, and that you will see your work of 1905 completed within a measurable distance of time.

Many thanks for the Memorandum re taxation of post-offices at Canton, which was

Yours, &c.

very useful.

(Signed)

J. N. JORDAN.

Inclosure 7 in No. 1.

Draft of Telegraphic Reply to Chang Chih-Tung, dated October 11, 1908,

YOUR Excellency's telegram of the 10th instant received to-day. At an interview with Vice-President Liang yesterday I learned your views, and Sir John Jordan had by telegraph instructed me that Mr. Bland, now on his way from England, would certainly on arrival at Peking discuss this loan with your Excellency. Your Excellency will remember that last year Mr. Bland visited Hankow and was received by you. His knowledge of Chinese and long residence in China will, I hope, serve to render him in your opinion a trustworthy and intelligent agent.

Mr. Moore's qualifications are by no means confined to waterworks engineering; his ability and learning are equally excellent, and his experience thorough, but his special engagement by the Hupei Government is a difficulty, while Ross is busy on the line northwards from Chu-Chon.

To find an engineer competent for the important work your Excellency indicates is no easy task. Being an outsider as regards this special science, I could not hastily make a recommendation. But I recollect that when your Excellency inquired of the well-known Mr. Kinder, the reply was that Mr. Bourne appeared equal to the post of Engineer-in-chief in China. Apart from him there are one or two of Mr. Kinder's senior assistants who might be promoted.

There is, however, a further consideration which I would lay before your Excellency. If the British and Chinese Corporation at your wish undertake this loan, it would surely not be unreasonable for the Corporation to ask to be consulted as to the engineer to be employed.

As your Excellency's telegraphic request is urgent, I can only telegraph it and the above reply to Sir John Jordan for him to decide whether the Corporation should be by telegram called on for their opinion.

My dear Fraser,

Inclosure 8 in No. 1.

Sir J. Jordan to Consul-General Fraser.

MANY thanks for yours of the 12th October.

Peking, October 20, 1908.

I am afraid I have been rather remiss in answering your various communications about Chang's overtures for a loan, but they have all been read with great interest, and copies sent to the Foreign Office. You have not interfered in any way with our plans here, and I look upon it as a decided gain that Chang, by applying to you direct, has confirmed his obligations to us under the Agreement of 1905.

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