CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909 — Page 426

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

327

AFFAIRS OF CHINA.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[29874]

No. 1.

[August 9.] til SEP 09

SECTION 6.

424

(No. 221.) Sir,

Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received August 9.)

Peking, June 23, 1909. WITH reference to my despatch No. 199 of the 27th ultimo, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith copies of two further despatches from His Majesty's consul-general at Shanghae respecting the affairs of the Whangpoo Conservancy.

You will observe that the report presented by the German consul-general and adopted by the consular body has since been rejected by the latter, and this change of attitude has, no doubt, rightly been ascribed by Sir Pelham Warren to the influence exercised by the letters from the Shanghae Chamber of Commerce and the China Association eulogising M. de Rijke's work, and denying any desire on their part to hamper or delay him in the execution of his projects.

The discussion upon M. de Rijke's proposals was adjourned, at the last meeting of the diplomatic body, pending the receipt from Shanghae of details which would enable the foreign representatives to examine them with a full knowledge of the facts. The exact financial position is not very easy to understand, and I have accordingly requested Sir Pelham Warren to furnish me with a full report upon this side of the question.

A further despatch from His Majesty's consul-general is also enclosed, containing the statement of conservancy work for the quarter ended the 31st March last.

I have, &c.

Inclosure 1 in No. 1.

J. N. JORDAN.

(No. 43.) Sir,

Consul-General Sir Pelham Warren to Sir J. Jordan.

Shanghae, June 1, 1909. I HAVE the honour to transmit to you herewith copies in triplicate of the correspondence which has taken place relating to the affairs of the Whangpoo Conservancy.

I have, &c.

PELHAM L. WARREN.

Inclosure 2 in No. 1.

Sir,

Shanghae General Chamber of Commerce to M. Siffert.

Shanghae, May 24, 1909. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 13th instant, and in reply beg to state that same will be discussed by my committee at their next meeting.

In connection with conservancy matters, it may be of interest to you to know that at the annual general meeting of members, held on the 19th ultimo, the com- mittee were authorised to obtain a full report, from an engineer of high standing, on the work now in progress for improving the river approaches to Shanghae.

My committee's object in taking these steps is not due to any want of confidence in the carrying out of his scheme by M. de Rijke, but rather that the good work done by him may be confirmed by a competent expert. There is more particularly no

[2391 -6]

B