CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910 — Page 81

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British subjects affected would, excluding residents who will be registered, be mainly, if not entirely, of two classes, namely, those arriving from treaty ports in China visiting or intending to travel in Manchuria, and travellers by the South Manchurian Railway. The former should all, if resident a month in any treaty port, have registration certificates and the latter passports-in cases registration certificates as well. The simplest course, then, would seem to be that a list of registered British subjects should be given to the Russian consul-general and that, as regards temporary sojourners, the police, if suspicious of them and in doubt as to their nationality, should refer to the consul-general, who could apply to this consulate for information on the point. It would, of course, be clearly understood that the police, as you informed M. Korostovetz, could in no case claim the right to examine the passports of British subjects, and any arrangement should, I think, be informal without prejudice to our exterritorial rights and any subsequent agreement regarding the status and municipal administration of Harbin.

In suggesting that the Russian consul-general might be furnished with a list of British subjects, I have had in mind that he would in any case always have the right to enquire whether such and such a person were a British subject, and that in most of the treaty ports-and Harbin will be among them the jury list exhibited in a conspicuous place in the court contains the names of the majority of the male British residents. I ought, perhaps, to mention that M. Klementaski, who is often in charge of Messrs. Craig and Co. and is generally thought to be a British subject, is not so in fact, and his name would therefore be missing from any list supplied.

My German colleague tells me that his nationals, who are not compelled to register at ordinary treaty ports, desire to do so here and to have their names communicated to the police. "I told him that I thought that any information which it might be considered advisable to give should go through the Russian consul-general, and I rather gathered that he agreed with this. Dr. Heintze expressed the opinion that it was the interest of us all to facilitate the police as far as one properly could on the ground that bad characters would be deterred from coming to Harbin if satisfied that they would not be able to escape observation, whatever their nationality.

The American consul has not been approached. While he would not, I think, be unwilling to answer an enquiry, I doubt if he would be prepared to recommend the furnishing of a list. At present, he has only two nationals, both employés of the

Customs.

Should you see no objection to the proposal to give a list of British subjects, the addition of their addresses might be allowed and would deprive the police of all excuse for wrongful entry.

Yours sincerely,

H. E. SLY.

CHINA RAILWAYS.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[15027]

No. 1.

15575

[May 2.]

SECTION 1.

Rece REG 23 MAY 10

Sir C. MacDonald to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received May 2.)

(No. 93. Confidential.)

Sir,

SOME excitement was created here yesterday by an announcement in Reuter's

Tokyo, April 15, 1910. telegram service, to the effect that you had stated in the House of Commons in reply to Mr. Arbuthnot that the concession for the financing and construction of the Kinchow-Aigun Railway had been signed and granted to American and British firms.

As it was Count Komura's reception day, I took the opportunity of asking his Excellency whether he had any news from Peking in confirmation of the above telegram. Count Komura replied that he had seen Reuter's telegram which had caused him some surprise, for he had had no news from Peking respecting the Chinchow-Aigun Railway for some weeks. Government were pressing very hard in Peking for the signature of the concession, He was aware that the American but he did not think it was actually signed, and he thought that you were, in the House of Commons, possibly alluding to the preliminary agreement signed some months ago. Only that morning be had heard from Mr. Kato by despatch that you had informed him that the American Government were trying to come to some arrangement with the Russian Government regarding the railway; the Japanesc position remained the same. They were quite willing not to oppose the construction

of the railway provided they were allowed to participate in the same; as I was aware, the terms of participation had been communicated to the Chinese Government, but

to the present the Wai-wu Pu had not vouchsafed a reply.

}}

In the aute-room I had a few minutes conversation with the Russian Ambassador, who was waiting his turn to interview the Secretary of State; in reply to my query M. Malevsky said that he had come on purpose to inquire regarding the telegram published by Reuter that morning; if the statement was true it would of course be a very serious matter. just told me that he had had no news from Peking and was inclined to think that the I told his Excellency that Count Komura had statement referred to the preliminary treaty signed some time ago at Mukden. M. Malevsky then said: "Do you think these Japanese are not playing a double game, and are all this time negotiating with the Americans." naïve question I replied that during my nine years experience of the Japanese To this somewhat Government I had never known them to play a double game, indeed had found them, for a Government, exceedingly straightforward and honest. great truth that my five years experience at Peking would certainly preclude my I might have added with giving the Russian Government an equally good character. opinion Reuter had probably not stated the case correctly; if the final agreement had I said that in my been signed, which was of course possible, we should soon hear of it. M. Malevsky agreed with my estimate of the Japanese Government so far as his short experience went, and added a high tribute to the frankness and straightforwardness of the present Foreign Minister, Count Komura.

I have, &c.

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CLAUDE M. MACDONALD.