CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909 — Page 102

[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.f

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100 21 JAN 09

CHINA RAILWAYS,

CONFIDENTIAL.

[December 14.]

SECTION 1,

[43554]

No. 1.

Sir C. MacDonald to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received December 14.)

(No. 288. Confidential.)

Tokió, November 6, 1908. (Extract.)

WITH regard to the proposed Tsing-min-tung-Fakumen Railway, Tong-Shaoyi had had an interwiew with Count Komura, and had asked whether it was the wish of the Japanese Government that he (Tong-Shaoyi) should open negotiations respecting this question in Tôkio, or whether the matter should be discussed in Peking between the newly-appointed Japanese Representative, Mr. Ijuin, and the Wai-wu Pu. Count Komura had decided that the negotiations had better be carried out in Peking. Tong-Shaoyi had discussed the matter informally with Count Komura, and told me that he had informed the Count that the branch line, which the Japanese proposed should be built by China from the Fakumen district to the South Manchurian Railway in lieu of the Tsing-min-tung-Fakumen line, would or would not be acceptable to China, according to how far north above Mukden the said branch line joined the South Manchurian; if it was to be a mere junction line from Fakumen to the nearest point on the South Manchurian, China could not accept it as a substitute for the Tsing-min-tung-Fakumen line, but if it were projected from Fakumen to Mukden, or a point a little north of that place, the solution would be acceptable to China, and in this case he would telegraph to his Government and recommend the acceptance of this solution. A few days afterwards I saw Count Komura and mentioned this proposal to him informally, and he said that he did not think the Japanese Government would have any objection to the branch line being constructed from Fakumen to Mukden. I mentioned that, in the course of conversation with me, Tong-Shaoyi had stated that he would be prepared to suggest an acceptance of this solution of the question.

On the 2nd instant I entertained his Excellency at this Embassy, and, in the course of conversation, mentioned that Count Komura seemed to look upon his suggestion with favour. Ilis Excelleney said that such was the case, and he hoped that on these lines a solution might be arrived at.

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