CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910 — Page 91

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

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15898

[B]

CHINA RAILWAYS.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[15884]

No. 1.

RECO

REG 27 MAY 10 [May 9.]

SECTION 2.

(No. 222.) Sir,

Sir A. Nicolson to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received May 9,)

St. Petersburgh, May 5, 1910. M. SAZONOW gave me this afternoon, for my confidential information, copy of a memorandum which had been received from the United States Government in regard to the Chinchow-Aigun railway. I have the honour to transmit a copy of the document.

was

M. Sazonow told me that the United States Ambassador, previous to his recent departure from here on leave of absence, had said that there no immediate necessity for the Russian Government to hasten in giving a reply, and I daresay that Mr. Rockhill desires to confer with his Government on the subject. M. Sazonow remarked that the Russian Government could not well obstruct the construction of the line from Chinchow to Tsitsihar, though it would mean a loss of between 5,000,000 and 6,000,000 roubles annually to the Eastern Siberian line. He intended to speak with M. Isvolsky on the subject, but as there was apparently no objection to the Russian Government taking their time over a reply, the matter could be thoroughly considered and examined before formulating an answer.

I have, &c.

A. NICOLSON.

Enclosure in No. 1.

Memorandum communicated to Russian Ambassador at Washington by United States Government, April 5 (18), 1910.

THE Government of the United States has given most careful consideration to the memorandum of the Imperial Russian Government, presented to the embassy at Washington on the 24th February, 1910.

The American Government learns with regret that thus far the Imperial Russian Government still inclines to the view that the projected railway from Chinchow to Aigun, to be built by China by means of a foreign loan, would be injurious to the national and economic interests of Russia, as seemed, at the time, to be apprehended also of the more comprehensive proposals of the United States.

The rights of American citizens in the projected Chinchow-Tsitsihar-Aigun line, like those of the British company concerned, are based upon a contract ratified by the Imperial Chinese Government. In lending its support to this enterprise on the part of its nationals the American Government has felt that it was acting, not only in harmony with its traditional policy relating to China, but also in full accord with its broad rights under existing treaties. In view of this policy, which has repeatedly been recognised and accepted by the Powers, the Government of the United States could scarcely be supposed in any way to commit itself to a recognition of exclusive rights of any Power within any portion of the Chinese Empire under agreements such as that of 1899 between Russia and China, referred to in the memorandum of the Imperial Russian Government, even if it did not seem incontrovertible that these had been spontaneously superseded precisely by the terms of other subsequent treaty provisions on the part of Russia.

This principle, indeed, has long been generally accepted by the Powers, including the Imperial Russian Government, notably in the exchange of notes of 1899 and 1902, relating to the policy of equal opportunity throughout the Chinese Empire, and it has more recently been reaffirmed in numerous international agreements until it has become an integral part of the law governing and controlling the relations and intercourse of the interested nations.

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