CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909 — Page 418

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

[August 20.12 | SEP 09

CHINA RAILWAYS.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[31945]

No. 1.

Sir Edward Grey to Mr. Rumbold.

SECTION 4.

(No. 144.) Sir,

Foreign Office, August 20, 1909. THE Japanese Ambassador communicated to me to-day the enclosed memorandum as to the agreement which had been come to with China about the Antung-Mukden Railway.

Work would now be begun on the line, as intended, but with the consent of China instead of without it.

He had heard that before this question became acute Prince Hsu and others, who had access to the Prince Regent in China, had been using all their influence to remove the difficulties with Japan, and to advocate a conciliatory policy on the part of China. This dispute about the Antung-Mukden Railway had given them an opportunity, and the Ambassador hoped that there might now be better relations between China and Japan.

I told him that I hoped this more favourable disposition would be extended by the Chinese to other nations as well. I was very glad to hear that the Chinese Government were showing signs of a more practical spirit, for since the retirement of Yuan-Shi-Kai we had found it impossible to do business with them.

I

am, &c.

E. GREY.

Inclosure in No. 1.

Memorandum respecting the Antung-Mukden Railway.

IN reference to the question of reconstruction of the Antung-Mukden Railway line the Japanese Minister at Peking on the 6th instant, as previously announced, notified Chinese Government that the work of reconstructing the line would be forthwith undertaken. To this intimation Chinese Government replied on the 7th, stating that China did not insist upon her objections regarding change in the existing gauge or to introduction of such rectification of the line as was found to be technically necessary.

The reply also expressed a desire that the question of rectification of the line might be submitted to the commissioners to be appointed by the two countries. Accordingly, Ijuin on the 10th instant, in pursuance of instructions from the Imperial Government, addressed note to the Chinese Government pointing out that the proposed change in the location of the line was not only confined to what was absolutely necessary from technical consideration. But it was, in fact, based on result of the joint survey already made by commissioners of both Governments. Note added that under these circumstances there could be no necessity for dispatching joint commission for the purpose of repeating surveys which had already been completed, and consequently that it was desired that the Chinese Government in view of urgent necessity for speedy reconstruction of the line should at once approve of that portion of the line which has been already surveyed and agreed upon by the commissioners of both Governments. On the 13th instant the Chinese Government replied, and from that reply the Japanese Government was justified in assuming that China was fully prepared to recognise immediate necessity of reconstructing Antung-Mukden line, and that she desired to render all necessary co-operation in carrying out the undertaking. The Imperial Government thereupon, in consideration of friendly relations between Japan and China, instructed Consul-General Koike at Mukden to sign the memorandum with Viceroy Hsi and Governor Cheng, and, accordingly, memorandum to the following effect has been signed on the 19th August:

1. The same gauge as that of the Peking-Mukden Railway shall be adopted. 2. Both Japan and China shall recognise and approve on the whole the line as already surveyed and agreed to by the commissioners of the two Governments, but the

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