CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909 — Page 250

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

C.O.

248

15433

CHINA RAILWAYS,

[February 20.]

Prep

CONFIDENTIAL.

FG 7 MAY DE

SECTION 1.

[6969]

No. 1.

Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received February 20.)

(No. 46.) (Telegraphic.) P.

CANTON-HANKOW Railway.

Peking, February 20, 1909.

As authorized in your telegram No. 30 of the 14th instant, I interviewed my Japanese colleague on the subject of the railway negotiations, and obtained from him on the 16th instant a formal assurance that the Japanese Agent would refrain from all interference.

I have now received a letter, dated yesterday, from Lord ffrench, asking, on behalf of Pauling and Co., whether His Majesty's Government would have any objection to his discussing the question with the Japanese Agent, Odagiri, with a view to providing for a Japanese share in construction contracts in China.

In my reply I have told Lord ffrench that my instructions bind me to deal solely with the British and Chinese Corporation in all questions relating to the Canton- Hankow Railway, and that, until I have received instructions to the contrary, I am unable to support any scheme providing for Japanese participation.

I am relunctant to believe that the Japanese Minister's statement is unworthy of trust. That is, however, the conviction of both Mr. Bland and Lord ffrench, who urge the necessity of a compromise in order to conciliate the Japanese.

[2150 u-