C.O. 19075
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[14469]
No. 1.
JUN OC
April 17.]
SECTION 4.
455
Sir C. MacDonald to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received April 17.)
(No. 23.) (Telegraphic.) P.
Tokió, April 17, 1909. RUSSIAN proceedings at Harbin and question of railway settlements in Manchuria. Your telegram No. 14 of the 14th instant.
On several occasions when discussing this question with the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs, his Excellency has led me to understand that the policy of the Japanese Government respecting the railway territory in South Manchuria would be largely guided by what is obtained at Harbin by the Russians.
Yesterday I again sounded Count Komura on the subject. He spoke in the same terms as reported in the preceding paragraph, and said that it was not the intention of the Japanese Government, under the circumstances, to participate in the negotiations to be shortly opened in Peking.
The scheme of establishing an international settlement evidently does not meet with the approval of Count Komura.
His Excellency went on to say that jurisdiction over foreigners in South Manchurian railway territory would certainly not be claimed by the Japanese Government; nor would taxes be imposed on leaseholders except for the maintenance of police, upkeep of roads, and similar objects.
I have repeated the above telegram to Peking.
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