CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909 — Page 412

C.O 30327

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

CHINA RAILWAYS.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[30332]

No. 1.

582 11 SEP 09

416

[August 10.]

SECTION 2.

Sir Edward Grey to Mr. Rumbold.

(No. 133.) Sir,

Foreign Office, August 10, 1909, MR. YAMAZA, Councillor of the Japanese Embassy, called upon Mr. Langley yesterday afternoon at this office in order to communicate the substance of the Chinese reply to the declaration of the Japanese Government that they intended to begin the reconstruction of the Antung-Mukden Railway.

Mr. Yamaza stated that the Chinese complained of delay on the part of the Japanese Government in proceeding with the construction of this line, a complaint which it was difficult to take seriously. They concurred, however, in the view that the Japanese bave a right to improve the line in such a manner as will make it fit for commercial purposes, but they considered that the degree of such improvement must correspond with the magnitude of the traffic. Finally the Chinese no longer insisted on their objections to a change of gauge or to a realignment of the line, but they stipulated that the gauge should be that of the Imperial Chinese Railways, and that the alterations required in the alignment should be fixed by a Japanese and Chinese joint commission.

To these contentions the Japanese have replied that the gauge will be the "standard gauge of the South Manchurian and Corean Railways, which is, as a matter of fact, the same as is in use on the Imperial Chinese Railways.

Mr. Yamuza stated, further, that the question of alignment had already been examined by Japanese and Chinese Commissioners, who were agreed as regards 168 miles out of a total length of 188 miles, and that the Chinese commissioners had made a report to their Government.

The Japanese Government intended to begin work on the line with the construc- tion of those sections concerning which there was no difference of opinion, and that they were ready to discuss with the local authorities the construction of those portions about which a difference existed.

I am, &c.

[2389 k-2

-2]

E. GREY.