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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
#2 DECOS!
183
[November 9.]
SECTION 1.
[41253]
No. 1.
Sir A. Nicolson to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received November 9.)
(No. 477.) (Telegraphic.) P.
St. Petersburgh, November 9, 1909. LAST night I was informed by my United States colleague that he had discussed the question of Harbin with the Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs some two or three days back. M. Isvolsky had admitted that the Minister of Finance was really in charge of the matter, and that he himself was unable to settle it; and Mr. Rockhill perceived clearly that M. Isvolsky was powerless to come to an arrangement, although his own desire was certainly to do so. M. Isvolsky's policy was, so he told Mr. Rockhill, to resist aggression by the Japanese and to strengthen the hands of China; but he was nevertheless alive to the possibility of a contrary result ensuing. In reply to an inquiry from M. Isvolsky whether the United States Government had given him an answer to the Russian memorandum of the 6th October for communication, Mr. Rockhill had said that the comments of his Government would be sent shortly. M. Isvolsky then observed that he had already been approached by the Japanese Government with a suggestion that a mutual understanding in regard to the Manchurian Railway questions should be come to; and he feared that the comments of the United States Government might arrive too late. I could see that Mr. Rockhill was apprehensive lest an arrangement as to spheres of influence, &c., might be concluded between Tokyo and St. Petersburgh, the practical effect of which would be to partition Manchuria between Russia and Japan economically; and that he feared no steps on the part of China to avert this would avail.
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