CO129-371 - Public Offices - 1910 — Page 162

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

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AFFAIRS OF CHINA,

CONFIDENTIAL.

[Januar 18]

FEB10

SECTION 1.

[1971]

No. 1.

Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey,-(Received January 18, 1910.)

(No. 490. Confidential.) Sir,

Peking, December 28, 1909. WITH reference to my despatch No. 418 of the 15th ultimo, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a despatch from His Majesty's coosul-general at Shanghae, announcing that dredging was resumed on the Whangpoo on the 27th ultimo. This information, which was telegraphed to me by Sir Pelham Warren at the time of the conclusion of the agreement for the resumption of work, was all the more welcome, as it followed upon the receipt by the dean of the diplomatic body of a note from the Wai-wu Pu foreshadowing a further delay of two months.

There still remains the larger question of the provision of funds for the completion of M. de Rijke's scheme. In his circular No. 160 of the 27th ultimo, copy of which I have the honour to enclose, the dean submitted the terms of a note to be addressed to the Wai-wu Pu in reply to their note of the 26th October last, copy of which was transmitted in my despatch No. 418 above-mentioned. For the reasons stated in my minute annexed to this circular, I suggested that no reference should be inade to the fact that some Ministers had asked for instructions from their Governments, and the paragraph to this effect has accordingly been left out of the note as sent to the Wai-wu Pu, copy of which is also enclosed.

This categorical declaration on the part of the foreign representatives that they are unable to accept the Chinese view of the case has as yet elicited no reply from the Wai-wu Pu. The greatest difficulty in the way of a settlement lies in the fact, which must be well known to the Chinese Government, that some of my colleagues, and notably the German Minister and, to some extent, the dean himself, are by no means wholehearted in their support of the demand for funds to carry out M. de Rijke's scheme.

M. de Kuczynski has a partiality for discussing side issues and losing himself in arguments upon the meaning of texts, which is of distinct disadvantage in a matter which requires a direct and vigorous expression of views. In this connection I have the honour to enclose copy of a memorandum drawn up in English by M. de Kuczynski and communicated to me on the 6th instant, which will illustrate the line of action which he takes in the matter. I shall not, however, fail, for my part, to urge that the Chinese Government be held to the responsibilities which they have obviously contracted with regard to the navigability of the Whangpoo.

I have, &c.

Enclosure 1 in No. 1.

J. N. JORDAN.

(No. >8.) Sir,

Consul-General Sir P. Warren to Sir J. Jordan,

Shanghae, December 16, 1901. WITH reference to my despatch No. 85 of the 15th ultimo, I have the honour to report that, as stated in my telegram No. 46 of the 25th ultimo, a contract for further dredging operations in connection with the Whangpoo Conservancy works was signed on the 24th ultimo.

The contract is entered into by the Conservancy Board with the East Asiatic Company and the Chinese syndicate jointly, but the execution and control of the work will be entirely in the hands of the former company.

The contract price is 22 taels per 100 cubic yards, but the Taotai has given an undertaking to the contractors that they will be paid an additional 50 cents per 100 cubic yards if they petition him to the effect that the contract price is unremunerative.

[2605 s-1]