[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
347
5654
Rec [December 25.3-co 24 "ED 10
SECTION 1.
[46693]
No. 1.
Sir C. MacDonald to Sir Edward Grey.~(Received December 25.)
(No. 79. Most Confidential.) (Telegraphic.) P.
YOUR telegram No. 46 and Sir J. Jordan's telegram No. 198 to Foreign Office
Tokyo, December 15, 1909. of the 23rd and 18th December respectively, relative to proposed internationalisation of railways in Manchuria, are the only two telegrains on the subject which I have received. I am unaware whether United States Government have approached His Majesty's Government on the subject or whether His Majesty's Government have accepted proposal in principle as stated by American chargé d'affaires. We should, however, clearly understand that any proposal to internationalise following railways, as well as any railways competing with them which may be built, will be absolutely declined by Japanese Government:-
1. South Manchurian railway.
2. Mukden-Antung line.
3. Kirin-Changchung-Horiyong line.
The Portsmouth Treaty of 1905 secures to them the first, article 6 of the additional agreement between China and Japan of December 1905 secures to them the second, and the third is dealt with in article 6 of the second agreement of the 4th September, 1909, which was enclosed in Mr. Rumbold's despatch No. 261 of the 6th September last.
Minister for Foreign Affairs explicitly confirmed the above to me in a conversa. tion this afternoon.
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