CO129-371 - Public Offices - 1910 — Page 90

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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Governme5

IREC

Rec 28 JAN 10 [December 24.1

89

CHINA RAILWAYS.

CONFIDENTIAL.

SECTION 1.

[46655]

(No. 513.)

No. 1.

Sir A. Nicolson to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received December 24.)

(Telegraphic.) P.

RAILWAY schemes in Manchuria.

St. Petersburgh, December 24, 1909.

At an interview which I had to-day with M. Isvolsky, his Excellency spoke to me of a memorandum which had been communicated to him officially by the American embassy here.

This memorandum was practically identical with the one which Mr. Whitelaw Reid communicated on the 9th November to His Majesty's Government. M. Isvolsky observed that the scheme was a vast one, and would have to be most carefully studied by the Russian Government. His Excellency avoided giving me any indication of how he viewed the American proposal, but said that he would be curious to hear what the Japanese Government thought of it.

M. Isvolsky also mentioned the scheme for Anglo-American co-operation in the construction of the proposed railway from Chinchow to Aigun. This project he regarded in a serious light, and remarked that it would affect the obligations contracted by China towards Russia. Did I know whether the signature of the contract had taken place? I replied that I had no information on this point.

I gather that Russia will certainly expect the scheme to be submitted to her before any final decision is arrived at, and I think that the point of view of the Russian Government would be that the interest of Japan in the proposed line is less than their own.

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