CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909 — Page 43

1

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

CHINA RAILWAYS.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[4758]

12195

[February 4.]

41

RECR Rre APR OC

SECTION 1.

No. 1.

Sir,

Chinese Central Railways to Foreign Office.--(Received February 4.)

110, Cannon Street, London, February 3, 1909. IN reference to my letter of the 10th August, 1908, on the subject of the continued evasion on the part of the Chinese Government of its obligations under the Preliminary Agreement for the Pukow-Sinyang Railway, I am instructed by my Directors to again bring this matter to your notice. I inclose, for your information, copies of a letter addressed to His Majesty's Minister by Mr. Bland and of Sir John Jordan's reply, dated the 11th November. Since that date nothing whatever has been done, and it is feared that unless some considerable pressure is brought to bear the Chinese Government will continue its policy of delay, and may finally claim that the Chinese Central Railways rights have lapsed through want of prosecution.

From the reply given by the Wai-wu Pu to Sir John Jordan, as quoted in his letter, it would seem that the Chinese Government already ignore the fact that there is a Preliminary Agreement for this line, inasmuch as they speak of it as a connecting link between the two northern trunk lines on which no decision could be taken until the Tien-tsin-Pukow line was finished. It is hardly necessary to point out that the Preliminary Agreement makes no mention of a connecting link, but states definitely the termini are to be Pukow and Sinyang. If the Chinese Govern- ment consider that it would be more advantageous to have the western terminus at some point on the Peking-Hankow line further north than Sinyang my Directors have no objection, and Mr. Bland has so informed the Board of Communications nearly a year ago. But as that railway has long been finished and working there can be no difficulty in coming to a decision on the point; and even if they should wish to change the castern terminus to a point on the Tien-tsin-Pukow line there is equally no difficulty, as that line has been surveyed and mapped out. Mr. Bland has authority to discuss and settle any modifications they may desire on these points, if they do desire any, and therefore my Directors consider there is no excuse for further delay.

Under these circumstances, my Directors would respectfully request that Sir John Jordan may be instructed to press strongly for the fulfilment of the obligations entered into by the Preliminary Agreement of 1898.

I have, &c. (Signed)

THOS. GILBERT, Secretary.

Sir,

Inclosure 1 in No. 1.

Mr. Bland to Sir J. Jordon.

Chinese Central Railways (Limited), Peking, November 9, 1908.

I HAVE the honour to request that your Excellency may be pleased to advise me, for the information of my Board of Directors, as to the present situation of your negotiations, commenced in May last with the Wai-wu Pu, in regard to the Pukow- Sinyang Railway,

I addressed your Excellency last on this subject on the 6th July, when, referring to the objections raised by his Highness Prince Ch'ing in re the appointment of negotiators, I stated that in view of altered local conditions my Board would be prepared to accept certain reasonable modifications of the Preliminary Agreement for this railway.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

J. O. P. BLAND.

[2150 d-1]

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