2
On the whole, I consider that the arrangement constitutes a fair and reasonable compromise. Above all it secures that a united front shall be shown to the Chinese authorities, and that they will not be able to evade their obligations by playing off one interest against the other. Whether they will agree to purchase themselves the land required remains to be seen. Mr. Ker already had an interview, in company with his German colleague, with the Viceroy on the 30th ultimo. His Excellency said that he could do nothing definite until his colleagues on the Board of Directors were present in about five or six weeks' time, but he agreed that some connection should be made between the Settlements and the railway, and he promised to suggest to his co-Directors that work should not be definitely begun upon a station until an opportunity for discussion had been given.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
Inclosure in No. 1.
(A.)-Joint Memorandum.
J. N. JORDAN.
AS the result of negotiations between two Committees, representing the British and German communities respectively, we agree to urge on the Chinese authorities the following scheme for providing railway-station facilities in connection with the Tien-tsin- Pukow line for the foreign Settlements at Tien-tsin :---
2. A Settlements railway-station is to be placed on the main line, or, failing the main line, on a branch line, near the so-called West Village; and a landing-station is to be placed in the British Southern Extension, the area of such landing-station to be bounded on the north by the Bromley Road, on the south by the German Concession, on the east by the Bund Road, and on the west by the Victoria Road. These two stations are to be connected either (a) by a straight line crossing Taku and Victoria Roads, or (b) by a line curving round the south of the German Concession and continuing through the German Concession from south to north. The question which of these two connec- tions is to be advocated is in the option of the German Consul, it being understood, however, that if (a) is selected the lines crossing Victoria and Taku Roads should not exceed two in number. The situation of the stations and the alternative connections are roughly indicated in the annexed plan marked (C).*
3. The above scheme is to be pressed as a whole upon the Chinese authorities, and the latter are to be urged to purchase all the land necessary for the above purposes.
4. With regard to the bund and wharfage facilities in front of the landing-station, which we hereby agree to form part of the joint scheme, the expense of purchasing the necessary land and of wharf construction shall be defrayed by the British and the German parties interested, and it is agreed that such expense shall be defrayed in the proportion of three-fifths by the former and two-fifths by the latter. The bund and wharf area shall remain, as heretofore, under British municipal jurisdiction and police control, but all questions of building operations, upkeep, &c., shall be decided jointly by the two parties interested; and all revenues derived from shipping on account of such bund and wharfage facilities shall be shared by the parties interested in the same proportion as the expenses-i.e., three-fifths by the British and two-fifths by the German parties.
5. The road area shall be free of all taxation to traffic coming from the river, railway, German Concessions, or British Concessions, and the mooring and bund fees shall never be less than those charged in the British Concession.
6. This Memorandum-marked (A)-is to be read in conjunction with the Supple- mentary Memorandum marked (B), which is signed simultaneously.
(Signed)
W. P. KER,
Acting British Consul-General. DR. DAUMILLER,
Acting German Consul,
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(B.)-Supplementary Memorandum.
IN the Memorandum marked (A), of even date, a scheme is outlined which we have agreed to press on the Chinese authorities for providing railway-station facilities in connection with the Tien-tsin-Pukow line for the foreign Settlements at Tien-tsin. We are agreed that it is for the Chinese railway authorities to purchase all the property required according to paragraph 2 of the said Memorandum, inasmuch as they thereby provide proper facilities for foreign commercial interests and secure for themselves a connection with the river. We agree to use every effort to get this principle admitted by the Chinese.
2. It has, however, been considered essential that in the event of the Chinese refusing to provide the cost of the land required for the said scheme we should come to a preliminary agreement as to the proportion in which such expense should be met by the British and the German parties interested. The two Committees representing the British and German communities have agreed to recommend to their respective principals that in such an event the cost of financing the joint scheme shall be shared in the proportion of three-fifths by the former and two-fifths by the latter, the same proportion to be applied, if the Chinese agree to pay part only of the cost, in defraying the balance. This arrangement we hereby confirm.
3. As regards the bund and wharfage facilities mentioned in paragraph 4 of Memorandum (A), it is agreed that should the Chinese insist on acquiring the bund on their own account the whole of the arrangements contemplated by the said paragraph 4 shall form the subject of future consideration.
W. P. KER,
Tien-tsin, September 24, 1908.
(Signed)
Acting British Consul-General. DR. DAUMILLER,
Acting German Consul.
Tien-tsin, September 24, 1908.
* Not printed.
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