58
conceded for the working of mines, &c., to merchants of other nations, and he con- sidered that this applied to the leased territory, but not to the zone of influence bordering on it.
In a subsequent conversation with His Majesty's Minister, as reported in Sir E. Satow's despatch No. 346 of the 8th October, copy of which is also inclosed,† Baron von Mumm repeated his contention, urging that the action of the German Legation was justified by the juridical interpretation of our lease of Wei-hai Wei.
His Majesty's Government are of opinion that no distinction between the leased territory and the sphere of influence contiguous to it, such as that claimed by Baron von Mumm is to be inferred from the terms of the Wei-hai Wei Convention, and I request that you will represent to the German Government that the presence of foreign miners is incompatible with the spirit of that Convention and would clearly interfere with the right secured to Great Britain of erecting fortifications and taking such measures for defence as may be deemed necessary within the zone in question. You should express the earnest desire of His Majesty's Government that the German Minister at Peking may be instructed to withdraw his opposition to the proposed Agreement for the regulation of mining operations in Tiger Hill.
I am, &c.
(Signed) LANSDOWNE.
59
571
Interest has been provided for on 800,0001., amount at which railway indemnity has hitherto been estimated.
Delegate asks whether he may apply the surplus of interest not required for payment to railway administration for the next instalment on certificates of private
claims.
(No. 379.) Sir,
No. 63.
The Marquess of Lansdowne to Sir E. Satou.
Foreign Office, December 12, 1903. I HAVE received your despatch No. 348 of the 15th October, relative to the 'Supao" case.
I approve the language held by you at the meeting of the Diplomatic Body on the 3rd October, as well as the terms of the instructions which you issued to the Acting British Consul-General at Shanghae in your despatches to him, Nos. 30 and 31 of the 14th of the same month.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
LANSDOWNE.
No. 61.
No. 64.
Sir,
Foreign Office to Colonial Office.
Foreign Office, December 9, 1903. WITH reference to your letter of the 3rd September last, I am directed by the Marquess of Lansdowne to transmit to you, to be laid before the Secretary of State for the Colonies, copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Minister at Peking,* on the subject of the Concession granted by the Chinese Government to a German Company for conducting mining operations within an area of 250 li round Chefoo.
Lord Lansdowne proposes, should Mr. Secretary Lyttelton concur, to approve the language held by Sir E. Satow to the German Minister, as reported in his despatch.
I am further to inclose copy of a despatch which his Lordship has addressed to His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Berlin,+ instructing him to represent to the German Government that Elis Majesty's Government cannot agree with the view of Baron von Mumm that a distinction can be made between the territory leased to Great Britain at Wei-hai Wei and the sphere of influence bordering on it, which would allow of a mining concession being granted to a German Company within the latter area. Mr. Buchanan is also to point out that the presence of foreign miners is clearly incompatible with the spirit of the Wei-hai Wei Convention, and would interfere with the right secured to Great Britain of erecting fortifications and taking such measures as would be necessary within the zone in question.
I am, &c.
No. 62.
(Signed)
F. A. CAMPBELL.
(No. 266.)
Sir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.~(Received December 10,)
(Telegraphic.) P.
RAILWAY indemnity.
Your Lordship's telegram No. 191 of the 28th November. from the 1st January last, has been paid by British Delegate.
Peking, Dechmber 10, 1903.
Interest on 347,0007.
Sir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.—(Received December 11.)
(No. 269.) (Telegraphic.) P.
Peking, December 14, 1903.
A GUARD of forty men is shortly to be attached to the Belgian Legation, which has hitherto had no guard.
Existing Legation guards number 1,865 officers and men, and there is nothing
in the political situation to suggest the necessity of adding to them.
(No. 388.) Sir,
No. 65.
The Marquess of Lansdowne to Sir E. Satow.
Foreign Office, December 18, 1903. I HAVE received your despatch No. 324 of the 16th September, inclosing a copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Consul-General at Tien-tsin, in which he states that he has ascertained from Mr. Detring that the meaning of the Award given by him on the 20th April last in the matter of the Chi Chia Lou land is that, although the land was adjudged to belong to the Northern Railways Administration, the latter is called upon to pay for it a second time. Mr. Detring added that he had formed the opinion that the Administration originally had not paid sufficient attention to the claims of Prince Su, and that the latter had an equitable claim on the railways for compensation.
From the Minutes of the Third Meeting of the Railway Land Commission, inclosed in Mr. Townley's despatch No. 282 of the 29th July, the vendees of Su Peitzu were apparently to be considered the rightful owners and entitled to compensation should the railway be shown to have been negligent in taking Sun-wei for the lawful owner. By Mr. Detring's decision, however, Prince Su has been awarded compensation.
I request that you will instruct Mr. Hopkins to furnish you with an explanation as to why Prince Su and not the vendees of Su Peitzu should have received compensation, and also as to whether the Railway Administration has power to recover from Sun-wei the money previously paid to him for the land under an erroneous belief in the validity of his ownership.
As questions may possibly be asked on the subject when Parliament meets, I request that you will telegraph a summary of Mr. Hopkins' Report on these two points.
I am, &c.
LANSDOWNE.
(Signed)
* No. 47.
† No. 60.
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