CO129-371 - Public Offices - 1910 — Page 267

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accepting the proposal in principle, might make reserves as to the South Manchurian Railway.

There was nothing in your telegram directly indicating that His Majesty's Govern- ment had, as stated by the American chargé d'affaires to Sir John Jordan, agreed in priuciple to the internatioualisation of railways in Manchuria, but it contained the suggestion that the Japanese Government might do so with reservations regarding the South Manchurian Railway. I thought it therefore my duty to point out without loss of time that there were, in my opinion, other railways in Manchuria in course of con- struction and projected which the Japanese Government would certainly object to internationalise. Before telegraphing to you in this sense I considered it would be as well to obtain an authoritative statement from Count Komura in the matter, and accord- ingly requested an interview, which his Excellency was able to give me on the following day, Christmas Day.

I reminded his Excellency that he had informed me when last we met that the Japanese Government were not likely to internationalise the South Manchurian Railway, which was, for the time being, at any rate, the property of the Japanese nation, won by them at heavy cost and secured to them by treaty; but there were other railways in Manchuria-the Antung-Mukden, already commenced, and the Chanchung-ririn- Hoiryong Railway, projected, if not commenced. Would the Japanese couscut to the internationalisation of these railways? Count Komura at once replied, as I had His Excellency then went on to say that this move on expected, "Most certainly not." the part of the American Government had come as a surprise, though it was known that it was a "pet scheme" of several Americans connected with China, such as Mr. Rockhill, lately Minister in Peking and now Ambassador in St. Petersburgh. In conversation with Mr. O'Brien, he had reminded the American Ambassador that the South Manchurian Railway was secured to Japan by the terms of the Portsmouth Treaty, to which the American Government were the first to give their assent. As to the two other railways 1 bad mentioned, as I was aware, the Antung-Mukden Railway had formed the subject of an agreement between China and Japan, signed in Peking in 1905, and the Chanchung-Kirin-Hoiryong, or rather the extension from Kirin to Hoiryong, had been decided upon in the agreement signed at Peking between China and Japan on the 4th September last. His Excellency added that not only would Japan object to the internationalisation of these lines, but would oppose the construction of lines parallel to and competing with them.

I am still unaware whether the United States Government have approached His Majesty's Government on this internationalisation question, but, having received such unequivocal and explicit confirmation of my surmise as to the course which Japan would take in the matter, I at once telegraphed the same to you in view of future possible negotiations between His Majesty's Government and the American Government on the subject.

I have, &c.

CLAUDE M. MACDONALD.

Foreign Office

1910

1912 Fab

Last previous Paper.

01

-Copy wines for 54. ut deb a

(16,855) W1.21,059--1. 40,000.

11.09. A&E.W.

Next subsequent Paper,

MC. 6213

HONG KONG

EACTERN

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