This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[35076]
No. 1.
645
[September 20.]
SECTION 1.
Mr. Rumbold to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received September 20.)
(No. 256. Confidential.) Sir,
Tokyo, August 31, 1909.
I ASKED the Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs to-day, whether he could tell me anything about the progress of the negotiations now taking place in Peking between the Chinese Government and the Japanese Minister, regarding the questions in dispute between China and Japan. I said that I had seen apparently authoritative statements in the local press to the effect that an agreement on these questions had practically been reached. An outline of the agreement had been even published.
His Excellency replied that the newspaper reports were all based on conjecture. He could, however, inform me confidentially that an agreement had been arrived at on all the main outstanding questions, and that he hoped that it would be signed at Peking within the next few days.
The principal question had been that of the sovereignty and jurisdiction over the Chientao district. Japan recognized Chinese sovereignty over that district, and the Tumen river was, in future, to be considered as the boundary between Chinese and Corean territory. All Coreans residing in Chientao, i.e., having fixed residences there, were to be under Chinese jurisdiction. On the other hand, Japan intended to establish a consulate, with several branches, in the district, and inside these consular districts (which Mr. Ishii called "marts") Coreans were to be under Japanese jurisdiction as were also those travelling in the country for any purpose. In reply to an enquiry as to whether it was true that Japan had acquired the right to build and work the Kirin- Hoiryong line--which will pass through Chientao-in return for her concession regarding the sovereignty, &c., over the Chientao district, Mr. Ishii replied in the affirmative. His Excellency stated that the line in question would be connected with Chongying on the sea.
The military attaché informs me that the above-mentioned line is of great strategic importance. About a year ago, in consequence of information received from the War Office and from Sir J. Jordan, Colonel Boger enquired of the military authorities whether they intended to build this line, but was informed that they did not, though he himself, in the course of a journey in those parts, subsequently ascertained that there were a whole battalion of engineers at Hoiryong, who were doubtless there for survey purposes. The line will presumably run from Kirin to Omosso, and thence south to Hoiryong. It will be linked up at the latter point with the Japanese light railway already in existence, which runs up from Kyongiyong on the Corean coast through Paryong.
Mr. Ishii further stated that no definite arrangement had at present been arrived at with regard to the policing of the Antung-Mukden line. It had, however, been decided to work the coal mines in that district jointly with the Chinese, although the Japanese Government were not much in favour of joint enterprises of this nature. The Chinese had, however, been very strong on this point. They had, nevertheless, agreed to the Yentai and Fushun mines being exclusively worked by the Japanese in accordance with the Peking Agreement of 1905.
The Isinintun-Fakumen Railway project was to be given up by the Chinese authorities or, should they ever bring it forward again, they could only do so after consultation with the Japanese Government.
In regard to the other questions, Mr. Ishii stated that the Chinese had, after some difficulty, consented to Japanese control over the Yinkow-Taschikao line and, in addition, to its prolongation a couple of miles or so to Newehwang.
His Excellency finally said that he was speaking quite confidentially, and that the Japanese Ambassador in London had been instructed to give you all the information contained in this despatch. Mr. Ishii has not, as far as I know, informed any other embassy of the arrangement come to on the various Manchurian questions. I should explain in this connection, what I have omitted in previous despatches, that the
[2418 u-)
-1]
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.