CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909 — Page 272

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

CHINA TRADE.

(CONFIDENTIAL.

[2585]

No. 1.

[January 20.]

SECTION 1,

Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received January 20, 1909.)

Peking, December 31, 1908.

(No. 583.) Sir,

I HAVE the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Acting Consul at Newchwang respecting the intention of the authorities of Manchuria to take steps for the conservancy of the Liao River.

I have instructed His Majesty's Acting Consul-General at Mukden to keep this important matter before the Viceroy. The Liao River is the natural outlet for Manchu- rian produce destined for export, and it is to the interest of trade that everything should be done to increase or maintain its carrying capacity.

I have, &c.

(Signed) J. N. JORDAN.

Inclosure I in No. 1.

(No. 26.) Sir,

Acting Consul Tebbitt to Sir J. Jordan,

Newchwang, December 21, 1908. I HAVE the honour to inclose herewith copy of a communication addressed by the Newchwang Chamber of Commerce to the Viceroy of Manchuria, through the Taotai, appealing to his Excellency to take some steps towards the conservancy of the Liao River, and more especially to deal with the growing loss of the waters of the Liao through the Shuang T'ai Tzu outlet.

I also beg to inclose an abstract from the native press of a Report on the Liao River Conservancy by Mr. Hughes, a British civil engineer in the employ of the Manchurian Government. His recommendations have practically received the support of the Government, and the local Chinese Chamber of Commerce has been instructed by the Viceroy to take the matter in hand without delay. The latter is now in commu- nication with the Chinese Chambers of Commerce of the riparian towns, with a view to co-operation in obtaining the necessary funds for the undertaking.

Should these schemes be carried out, and a minimum depth of 4 feet be maintained throughout the course of the Liao River, the water-borne traffic would recover its former vitality and compete successfully with the railways in their bid for the bean trade, the staple of Manchuria,

I have, &c. (Signed)

R. T. TEBBITT.

Inclosure 2 in No. 1,

Abstract of Report on the Liao River Conservancy.

(From the Native Press of December 17/18, 1908.)

(a.) Upper Reaches.-Mr. Hughes, civil engineer, was instructed by the Viceroy of Manchuria to report on the Liao River and to suggest the best way of conserving it. Mr. Hughes therefore travelled from Tung Chiang Tzu to Newchwang by the Liao River. He found 162 places which want urgent attention, the most important being at Tung Chiang Tzu, Tiel Ling, Chin Ma Ch'ang, and at Shuang Tai Tzu. His sugges- tions are to close up all outlets and bifurcations and get the river into as straight a course as possible. When necessary machinery is to be used, and in the case of deepening shallows coolies or dredge buckets could be used. It is necessary to insure and maintain a depth of 4 feet throughout, which will enable all boats to ply up and down.

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