CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910 — Page 519

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

515

[B]

CHINA RAILWAYS,

CONFIDENTIAL.

[24133]

No. 1.

о

25499

REC? Reo919 AUG 10

[June 29.]

SECTION 1.

Sir Edward Grey to Sir C. MacDonald.

(No. 108.) Sir,

Foreign Office, June 29, 1910. THE Japanese Ambassador told me to-day that M. Isvolsky had spoken to the Japanese Ambassador at St. Petersburgh, and informed him that he had seen Mr. Straight, the agent of the United States Syndicate, with regard to the Chinchow- Aigun Railway. M. Isvolsky had told Mr. Straight that the Russian Government would oppose this railway by every means in their power short of the actual use of force. M. Isvolsky had also told the Japanese Ambassador, though it was not certain that he had said this to Mr. Straight, that the Russian Government would not object to a line from inland places to the Chinese Eastern Railway, but objected to a line going to the sea.

I said that I had not before heard this. On the contrary, the last I had heard was that, although the Russian Government would oppose a railway to Aigun, they might find it difficult to oppose a line limited to Chinchow-Tsitsihar. It seemed to me that they would not be on tenable ground if they opposed every line connected with the sea. But in view of the agreement of 1899 between Russia and ourselves, I should stand aside as far as active support to the Chinchow-Aigun Railway was concerned.

I am, &c.

[2792 ƒ-1]

E. GREY.