CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909 — Page 420

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

Jace

0327

.30 // SEP 09

CHINA RAILWAYS.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[31520]

No. 1.

Papers communicated by Mr. Addis, August 21, 1909.

(1.)

[August 21.]

SECTION 2.

418

1

i

Dear Mr. Langley,

Mr. C. S. Addis to Foreign Office.

Hong Kong and Shanghae Banking Corporation,

31. Lombard Street, London, August 21, 1909.

I ENCLOSÉ copy of a private telegram I have sent to Hillier just to clear the

ground a little.

I still think that the only really equitable arrangement is the one I proposed to Mr. Straight, namely, to divide the whole line from Hankow to Chengtu into four sections and appoint a German, French, American, and British chief engineer to each section respectively.

It may, however, be decided that it is not possible to induce the Germans to give up a portion of the Hupeh section, and in that case I am privately sounding the French as to how they will view the following proposal :

The extension of the line beyond Ichang to be divided into three sections, of which one-third would be American and two-thirds Chinese Central Railways. As the line will probably fork into two directions, one branch going to Chungking and the other to Chengtu, it would probably be considered preferable to give the Americans the first of the three sections, and for the Chinese Central Railways to appoint a French and a British engineer on the Chungking and Chengtu sections respectively. For the rest, the finance and materials to be divided equally among the various groups.

I thought it might be useful, before we go any further in the matter, to know how our French friends would view such a solution of the difficulty.

Yours truly,

C. S. ADDIS.

Mr. C. S. Addis to Mr. Hillier, Peking.

Hong Kong and Shanghae Bank, London, August 21, 1909.

(Telegraphic.)

WITH reference to your wire of 20th, will reply as soon as possible after consultation with Foreign Office, but my own opinion is no arrangement can be considered equitable which requires the British to surrender wholly the right to engineer in Szechuan line.

(2.)

(Telegraphic.)

Mr. Hillier, Peking, to Mr. C. S. Addis.

Peking, August 20, 1909. REFERRING to your telegram of 19th, we will do our best, but we are acting upon unconditional authority contained in your telegram of 13th August. Referring to telegram from M. Casenave 19th August, we suggest in order to avoid another deadlock you should assure French their claim with respect to chief engineer Ichang-Chengtu Railway will be respected in event of American demand rendering rearrangement necessary. Our opinion is equitable arrangement would be first half Ichang-Chengtu section French engineer, second half American engineer, on condition that Americans consent to equal participation (in) four groups finance and materials.

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