CO129-363 - Public Offices & Others - 1909 — Page 365

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(Translation.)

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Inclosure 1 in No. 1.

Wai-wu Pu to Dean of Diplomatic Body.

THE Board has the honour to acknowledge the receipt of a memorandum from the doyen of the diplomatic corps on the subject of the Whangpoo conservancy in the following terms ---

"According to the chief engineer's report discussing ways and means for raising the required amount of money and arranging as to the proportion to be spent annually, it appears that it will take five years to complete the work and that the total cost will amount to 9,360,820 dollars, the dredging at one particular spot not being included in this amount. It is therefore requested that the diplomatic corps be informed how it is proposed to provide the necessary sum."

The Board would submit that the final protocol of 1901, with reference to the Whangpoo conservancy, estimated that the expenses incurred for the works and the general management of the undertaking would reach the annual sum of 460,000 Haikwan tacls for twenty years. This sum was to be supplied in equal portions by the Chinese Government and the foreign interests concerned. Later it was arranged with all the Powers that China should undertake the work herself, that she would hear the whole cost, and that the annual expenses as fixed by the protocol of 1901 should remain at 460,000 Haikwan taels during a period of twenty years. By the engineer-in-chief's scheme in 1907 the works were to be finished in four years and the cost would amount to 8,000,000 taels. M. de Rijke being regarded by all the Powers as a man in whom the greatest confidence could be placed, China therefore accepted his scheme. The whole of the work according to the schedule ought to be finished by next year without demanding from the Chinese Government any more money. M. de Rijke ought to complete the work according to the estimate and within the proper time, but to the great surprise of the Chinese Government he suddenly demands more money for the work. This is quite contrary to the stipulations already agreed on.

China has expended large sums on the opening of the new channel and on the closing of the old channel, and she does not intend to allow the new channel to silt up afresh and thus lose the benefit of all the works already executed.

The Board has accordingly telegraphed frequently to the Shanghae taotai to take steps to provide the necessary funds, and to urge the engineer-in-chief to carry out the dredging operations, section by section, without any delay. The taotai has also been instructed to telegraph immediately a detailed and comprehensive scheme for the future carrying on of the works in order that the Board might carefully examine the same. As soon as the reply has been received it will be forwarded to you. In the meantime the Board has the honour to forward this memorandum for the information of the doyen, and begs that he will communicate it to his colleagues.

Peking, October 9, 1909.

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importance for the future, according to the terms of the tender, a company, who was offering cheapest and in most conforming manner, has been selected already to undertake the work. As the engineer, de Rijke, is sick, he has gone to Japan for treatment. The other works of all kinds, which are executed in the original way, have not been finished yet and still are performed as always. Besides, as the construction of the jetties has not come to an end yet, how could the Li Chi Company (East Asiatic Dredging Company) discontinue the work ?"

Out of this explanation of the Shanghae taotai we find that none of the different works have been suspended. As to the dredging work, likewise sufficient funds have already been prepared and a company has been selected for the execution. This shows sufficiently that China is acting according to the treaties and does not spare efforts. As these affairs are of the greatest importance to the Chinese Government and the views are differing, the Governor of Kiangsu, by Imperial command, has been ordered especially to proceed to Shanghae to direct the Shanghae taotai to inspect in detail and to find reliable methods in order to arrive at a satisfactory result.

Inclosure 3 in No. 1.

Dean of Diplomatic Body to Prince Ch'ing.

Altesse,

Pékin, le 18 octobre, 1909. J'AI l'honneur d'accuser réception à votre Altesse Impériale de la note qu'elle a bien voulu m'adresser à la date du 16 octobre, concernant les travaux d'amélioration du cours du Whangpoo.

Je constate avec satisfaction que les autorités chinoises ont actuellement à leur disposition une somme suffisante pour permettre la reprise des travaux de dragage et que, par conséquent, cette reprise aurait lieu aussitôt que faire se pourra.

Je me permets, à ce sujet, de faire remarquer à votre Altesse Impériale que l'absence de M. de Rijke au Japon ne semble devoir en rien retarder l'exécution de ce projet, puisque la nature peu compliquée des opérations ne saurait exiger la présence continuelle à Shanghaï de l'ingénieur en chef; et je pense que votre Altesse sera d'accord avec moi pour constater que rien, dans l'espèce, ne s'oppose à une reprise immédiate de ces travaux.

Les représentants des Puissances attachent beaucoup de prix à la continuité dans l'œuvre d'amélioration, sans laquelle le libre accès du port de Shanghai ne saurait être assuré et un préjudice très grave pourrait être causé an commerce tant chinois qu'étranger. C'est pourquoi ils ne manqueront pas d'apprendre avec plaisir la décision prise par le Gouvernement chinois.

Je prie votre Altesse Impériale de bien vouloir m'aviser de la reprise des travaux de dragage dès que celle-ci sera un fait accompli. Je pourrai alors reprendre avec le conseil de votre Altesse l'étude du projet de travaux à exécuter présenté par M. de Rijke et la demande de fonds qui en dépend.

(Translation.)

Inclosure 2 in No. 1.

Memorial by Wai-wu Pu to Dean of Diplomatic Body.

IT is in the records that we have sont a memorial on the 9th October regarding the works for the correction of the Whangpoo River.

Now we are in receipt of the telegraphic answer from the Shanghao taotai, in which he says:--

"According to the sum fixed, China has provided sufficient funds, and the work hitherto done early has been examined and approved by the officials and merchants of all nationalities. Also all the Ministers residing in Peking say that good results have been obtained. This showing that China, conforming to all articles of the special treaty concerning the correction of the Whangpoo River, acted in full accordance with them and did not delay. The costs for dredging work, amounting to 300,000 taels, are not included by the sum fixed by the special treaty. As this is a work of greatest

Inclosure 4 in No. 1.

Official Note addressed by the Wai-wu Pu to Dean of Diplomatic Body.

(Translation.)

THE Chief President of the Wai-wu Pu, &c., and Prince of the First Order Ch'ing sends an official reply.

On the 6th day of the first year Ilsuan Tung (the 19th October) we received a note that the nature of the dredging work for the conservancy of the Whangpoo is not at all difficult, and that it is requested to resume the work quickly. Again, there is said that the Ministers of all nations regard the continuation of the work of the regulation of the Whangpoo as a matter of great importance; it is requested that a letter may be sent at the time when the dredging shall have been resumed in fact; aferwards there could be opened up the projects submitted by the engineer, de Rijke, and the funds in connection therewith.

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