[ { "id": 407833, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906", "page_number": 297, "title": "CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nCHINA TRADE.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[40354]\n\nNo. 1.\n\n[December 1.]\n\nSECTION 1.\n\n(No. 423.) Sir,\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received December 1.)\n\nPeking, October 17, 1906,\n\nWITH reference to my telegram No. 187 of the 10th instant, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith translation of a note from the Wai-wu Pu, stating that as the Japanese troops have been withdrawn from Hsinmintun, that place is to be opened to trade in accordance with the Supplementary Convention between China and Japan respecting Manchuria.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) J. N. JORDAN,\n\nInclosure in No. 1.\n\n(Translation.) Sir,\n\nWai-wu Pu to Sir J. Jordan.\n\nPeking, 32nd year, 8th month, 21st day (October 8, 1906).\n\nIN my note of the 10th September I had the honour to inform your Excellency that Tieh Ling, Tangchiangtzu, and Fakumen had been opened to trade in accordance with the provision of the Supplementary Convention between Japan and China respecting Manchuria that on the withdrawal of the troops Fenghuangch'eng, Liaoyang, Hsinmintun, Tiehling, Tungchiangtzu, and Fakumen should be opened by China herself to foreign trade.\n\nI have now the honour to state that the Japanese troops having been withdrawn from Hsinmintun, that place is to be opened to foreign trade in accordance with the Convention,\n\nI avail, &c.\n\n[2268 a-1]\n\n............\n\n292\n\nPage 292\n\n............\n\nPage 292", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 407942, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906", "page_number": 406, "title": "CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nAFFAIRS OF CHINA.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[34272]\n\n(No. 186.) (Telegraphic.) P.\n\nNo. 1.\n\n401\n\n[October 10.]\n\nSECTION 13.\n\nC.O. 46853\n\nTREE\n\nPg 20 DEC 06\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received October 10.)\n\nPeking, October 10, 1906, CUSTOMS Decree. Please see my telegram No. 179 of the 3rd instant. The method of procedure proposed is as follows :—\n\nThe Circular will be forwarded officially by the Shui-wu Ch'u, or Revenue Council, to the Board of Foreign Affairs. The latter will acknowledge its receipt, and authorize the Revenue Council to instruct Sir Robert Hart that the Circular is to be published in the next issue (about the end of this month) of the \"Quarterly Customs Gazette,\" the official organ for notifications concerning Customs matters.\n\nThe sanction of the Chinese Government will be given to the publication, inasmuch as it will appear under the authority of the Foreign Board, conveyed through the Revenue Council.\n\nSir Robert Hart agrees with me in considering this arrangement the best that can be made for publication in China.\n\n[34274]\n\nNo. 2.\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey-(Received October 10.) (No. 187.) (Telegraphic.) P.\n\nPeking, October 10, 1906. MANCHURIA. Please see my telegram No. 169 of the 12th ultimo. The opening of Hsinmintun has been notified by the Board of Foreign Affairs.\n\n[2183 k-3]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 411249, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-343 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "page_number": 426, "title": "CO129-343 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "content_text": "## \nAs long as their business is properly managed, they have it entirely in their own hands, and every shareholder is equal. No one has a right to dictate the policy of the Company; every shareholder has an equal right to speak, and the views of the majority prevail.\n\n\"I think Chinese Companies, under proper rules, with Imperial sanction, and with mixed Boards of native and foreign Directors, could be established and made to work satisfactorily. The railways would have to have foreign management at first; there are no Chinese at present who have the knowledge or experience necessary for the management of a large railway. The men who would be employed would, of course, be Chinese employés, as the Customs people are. Such men would do better work, and be more satisfactorily controlled by a mixed than by a purely Chinese Board of Directors. Besides, a Board composed of foreigners and Chinese would likely select a better class of foreigners than would likely be got in any other way. Foreigners are the best judges of foreigners, and Chinese of Chinese.”\n\nNoting the advice thus given, which is undoubtedly based on close acquaintance with Chinese affairs, it is interesting to consider the conditions under which railways on Chinese territory have been constructed since that date, and the political and financial results of these enterprises.\n\n## \nIn Manchuria, Shantung, and Yunnan, China has, at various times and under diplomatic pressure, conceded the right of railway construction to foreign Powers under conditions which deprive China of all control and profit in these enterprises and seriously prejudice her sovereign rights within the territory through which these railways run. The danger resulting from such concessions has now been fully recognized; it is realized that the existence on Chinese soil of railways administered and controlled to the detriment of China's political authority should never have been permitted. Of this, the history of the Manchurian provinces since 1896 has afforded a convincing object lesson, and a warning.\n\nConcessions of this kind may be described as strategical and political, as distinct from commercial undertakings, their inception being undoubtedly intended rather to extend the influence or territorial advantages of the Powers concerned than to develop the resources of the Empire for the advancement of China, and the consequent benefit of nations interested in the expansion of her trade; under existing political conditions, it may safely be assumed that no further concessions of this kind will be made, and that measures will eventually be agreed upon to prevent the railways thus constructed from creating results prejudicial to the Central Government's authority.\n\nThe Luhan Railway, although an enterprise originally associated with political objects of certain foreign Powers (1896-98), may now be definitely regarded as a commercial undertaking for the joint benefit of the Chinese administrations and the concessionnaires, and under the authority of the Chinese Government. No officially published information is available as to the cost of construction of this important trunk line or the actual results of its maintenance and working; but as the concessionnaires receive 20 per cent. of the profits, figures will no doubt be published in due course. A reliable authority, however, places the total cost of construction at a little over `6,000,000l`, provided partly by the Belgian loan and partly by funds paid in compensation for damage done by Boxers. The net profits (July 1906) are said to average 150,000 dollars per mensem. Had it not been for the receipt of `2,000,000l` on account of the Boxer disturbances, an additional loan would have been necessary, entailing further interest charges, which would have practically eliminated the profits now declared. By engineers, the work is generally reported to be good, though the system of construction is not that adopted on British railways, and is likely to entail heavy charges for maintenance and repair. China is entitled to pay off the Belgian loan (`4,500,000l`) on and after the 1st September, 1907, and, should she so desire thereafter, to take over complete control of the railway.\n\n## \nAnother Chinese Government railway which comes within the category of commercial undertakings with foreign capital is the line from Kaifeng to Honan-fu (about 210 kilom.), now in course of construction. Its conditions are practically the same as those of the Luhan, the Chinese Government guaranteeing the interest at 5 per cent. on a loan of `1,000,000l` at 90, intrusting the entire construction and administration to the Belgian concessionnaires (“la Compagnie Générale de Chemins de Fer et de Tramways en Chine\"), which is also entitled to 20 per cent. of the net profits of the undertaking. Period of loan twenty years: redemption of bonds begins after the tenth year.\n\nThe Chengting-Taiyuen-fu line (about 350 kilom.), originally part of the British `Peking Syndicate` Concession, became a Franco-Russian undertaking as the result of Russian diplomacy in 1898. It is now in course of construction—the capital (40,000,000 fr.) is French, and the conditions of the Loan Agreement are practically the same as those of the Honan-Kaifeng contract.\n\nThere are other railway undertakings on a small scale, such as the Ping Hsiang line in Hunan and the line (under construction) from Swatow to Chaochow-fu; but they need not be referred to in detail.\n\n## \nIn the Luhan contract, no precautions were taken by the Chinese Government to prevent the Concession being transferred from Belgian to any other nationality, an oversight which before long created serious uneasiness in the minds of his Excellency Chang Chih-tung and other high officials. When, therefore, a similar commercial Railway Concession was concluded with an American Syndicate (1898) to construct the railway from Hankow (Wuchang) to Canton, a clause was included in the contract stipulating that the rights of the American concessionnaires should not be transferred to persons of any other nationality. This clause was subsequently violated. The Belgian group of politicians and financiers who (supported by French and Russian diplomacy) had endeavoured to obtain the original Concession intrigued successfully at New York and obtained a controlling interest in the American Syndicate's stock, by virtue of which they speedily asserted claims to construct and administer the line. In this violation of the American Syndicate's agreement, his Excellency Shêng Kung-pao was apparently willing to acquiesce, but the Viceroy Chang Chih-tung, dreading the political effect of Franco-Russian influence, insisted on cancellation of the Concession. The personnel of the American Syndicate had practically no interest in China; their objects in obtaining—and in transferring—the Concession rights were frankly pecuniary, and they readily accepted the price at which, upon his Excellency Chang Chih-tung's advice, the Chinese Minister in Washington was authorized to buy back the Concession. As the contract had admittedly been violated, and as the United States' Government was unwilling to guarantee that the railway would permanently remain a strictly American undertaking, the payment of a large indemnity to the concessionnaires was unnecessary and unwise. This unfortunate conclusion of the affair has naturally prejudiced foreign capitalists in the eyes of the Chinese Government and people, and has indefinitely postponed the construction of a most important railway. The results are as much deplored by foreigners as by Chinese, but the experience will not be lost if it teaches the Chinese Government not to intrust important national undertakings to unknown capitalists whose interests are in no manner identified with those of China.\n\nThe short line from Canton to Samshui constructed by the American Syndicate before the repurchase of the Concession is now administered by the Liang Kuang Viceroy. The passenger traffic is remunerative, showing how profitable the trunk line should be. The management of the line, however, judged by European standards, is extremely defective, the personnel inefficient, and the maintenance bad; unless these matters are reformed, the railway must before long come to grief.\n\n## \nIn Shansi, a short line has been built by the `Peking Syndicate` to assist in the development of the Coalfield Concession, running from Tsecho to the Wei River. The future value of this railway (which has been recognized as a Chinese Government undertaking like the Chengting-Taiyuen-fu line) must depend on the facilities given for exploiting the coalfields, a matter which the gentry and students of the province appear to be opposing.\n\nThe Northern Railway—running from Peking to Tien-tsin, Shanhaikwan, Newchwang, and Sinminting—is the most profitable in China. Its first section was built by British engineers with Chinese capital under the direction of the Viceroy Li Hung-chang in 1879. Originally intended only to connect the Tongshan mines with the nearest navigable water, it was gradually extended to Tien-tsin and Shanhaikwan. In 1896, British capital was borrowed (`2,300,000l`) for the completion of this railway to Newchwang, under conditions formally recognized by the Chinese and British Governments, the entire line being given as security for the loan, and the railway being placed under the direction of a British engineer-in-chief and financial supervision of the bondholders. The annual profits of the undertaking (which, in 1905, amounted to over 10,000,000 dollars) show how greatly the resources of the Central Government may be increased by properly administered railways, if efficiently constructed.\n\nRecently, however, there have been indications of a tendency to minimize European control in the management—a course which, however gratifying it may be to those who profess advanced nationalist ideas, will, if definitely adopted, seriously prejudice the future prosperity and credit of the enterprise. The Chinese... \n\nPage 2368 \nB 2 \n420", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-343 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 411865, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "page_number": 365, "title": "CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "content_text": "# CHINA RAILWAYS\n## CONFIDENTIAL\n### No. 1\n#### 303\n##### [May 23.]\n\nSECTION \n23671 \n4 JUL 07 \nA \n\nSir,\n\nBritish and Chinese Corporation to Foreign Office.—(Received May 23.) |RECZ \n22, Abchurch Lane, London, May 22.\n\nWe now beg leave to reply to your letter of the 2nd instant (the receipt of which we acknowledged on the 3rd instant) and to support the contention of our representative in China that the Agreement between the Chinese and Japanese for the reconstruction of the Sinminting-Mukden Railway under Japanese auspices and with Japanese financial assistance is an infringement of both the original Loan Agreement of the 10th October, 1898, and of the supplemental Agreement (B) of the 20th April, 1902, which in clause 5 specially confirms clause 3 of the original Agreement in the following terms:- \n\n\"Under clause 3 of the Agreement dated the 10th October, 1898, it is stipulated that the construction of branch lines or extensions shall be undertaken by the Northern Railways Administration, and the intent of this stipulation is hereby confirmed in order to secure the existing interests of the railways. It is therefore agreed that the construction of any new railway within a distance of 80 miles of any portion of the existing lines, for which Concessions have not been signed previous to the date of this Agreement, shall be undertaken by the Administrators-General of the Imperial Northern Railways...\n\nSir Edward Grey remarks that the Northern Railway was not constructed to Sinminting when the Agreement (B) of the 29th April, 1902, was signed, but we beg leave to point out that Kaupantze, the junction on the railway from which the line was continued to Newchwang to the south-east, and to Sinminting to the north-west, is less than 80 miles (actually 70) from Sinminting, and that as early as 1900 practically all the earthwork between Kaupantze and Sinminting had been constructed and the rails laid to within 45 miles of Sinminting. The Kaupantze-Sinminting section had therefore become part of the Northern Railway system, although owing to the Boxer rising the actual completion and opening had not taken place.\n\nApart, however, from these facts, we submit that the term \"existing lines,\" in clause 5 of the Agreement of the 29th April, 1902, must necessarily cover the lines contemplated in the Loan Agreement, which the Chinese were under express obligation to the bondholders to construct, and it is to be noted that Sinminting was one of the objective points specially provided for in the Loan Agreement.\n\nWhen the Sinminting-Mukden line is reconstructed it will constitute a connecting link between the Northern Railway and the Eastern Chinese Railway, and also with the Siberian route to Europe. It is important therefore that it should be of the same gauge as the Northern Railway, and that the Northern Railway Administration's control of the working of it should be unfettered, for if the line were in any way under Japanese influence, there is a great risk of the tendency being to divert passenger traffic to the port of Dalny, and thence by sea to Tien-tsin, Shanghae, Hong Kong, and other places, rather than to afford facilities for it to find its way over the Northern Railway system to Peking, Hankow, &c., and later on to Canton and Hong Kong, or to Tien-tsin, and later on to Nanking, and thence over the new railway to Shanghae.\n\nAs regards goods traffic, any obstruction as regards facilities afforded for this class of traffic to find its way over the Northern Railway in the ordinary way would prejudice the interests of Tien-tsin in favour of those of Dalny, and deprive the Northern Railway of legitimate traffic.\n\nSir Grey refers to the Agreement with the Russian Government, that His Majesty's Government would not ask for any extension beyond Sinmintung, and observes that although His Majesty's Government are not similarly bound to the Japanese Government, the latter may be considered in a sense the successors of the Russian Government in title. As to this, we venture to remark that it would, it appears to us, be unfortunate for the Northern Railway if the Agreement were enlarged to include the Japanese Government, as it would prevent the construction of an important and valuable extension long advocated by Mr. Kinder, viz., to Tie-ling on the bank of the Lia Ho. If the Northern Railway system were extended to this place, it would tap at... \n\n[2481 z-3]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 411870, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "page_number": 370, "title": "CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "content_text": "# CHINA RAILWAYS\n## CONFIDENTIAL\n(19661)\n\n### No. 1.\n#### June 14.\n##### SECTION 2.\n###### C\n23671\n\nSir,\n\nBritish and Chinese Corporation to Foreign Office.-(Received June 14)\nTRG 4 JUL 07 22, Abchurch Lane, London, June 11, 1907.\n\nIMPERIAL Railways of North China and Chinese-Japanese Agreement.\n\nWe beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 4th instant informing us, in reference to our letter received by you on the 23rd ultimo, that before communicating with His Majesty's Minister at Peking on the subject Sir E. Grey would be glad to know whether the Corporation's views would be met if arrangements could be made to effect a compromise on the basis suggested by Mr. Bland, viz., that it should be clearly understood that the jurisdiction of the Chinese Railway Administration shall extend north-eastwards only to the Liao River, which is understood to be about 8 miles from Sinminting, and that Japanese control shall be limited to the east of that river.\n\nUnder the Loan Agreement we have no authority to consent to any compromise on behalf of the Bondholders, and we trust that Sir E. Grey may see his way to object to the Chinese-Japanese Agreement so far as it infringes the rights of the Railway Administration, of the Bondholders, and of the Corporation under the Loan Agreement, as set out in our letter to which you refer.\n\nShould, however, Sir E. Grey determine to agree to a compromise on the basis suggested by Mr. Bland, or otherwise, as to which we can take no responsibility, we beg leave to express the hope that before opening negotiations His Majesty's Minister may at least be instructed to discuss such basis with Mr. Kinder, and to enlarge it to such extent as His Majesty's Minister may consider reasonable after hearing Mr. Kinder's views.\n\nIt appears to us that, even if the 8 miles of line between Sinminting and the Liao River be constructed by the Northern Railway, the control of the through traffic between the system of the Imperial Railways of North China and the Eastern Chinese and Siberian Railways would still be in the hands of the Japanese South Manchuria Railway Company, who would probably desire to divert all this traffic to the port of Dalny, rather than to facilitate its passage over the Northern Railway system. The only advantage that would accrue to the Northern Railway Administration if the construction and control of the 8 miles of line to the Liao Ho were in their hands would be that, by this means, it would be possible to tap some of the traffic brought down by the river.\n\nWe are, &c.\n(For the British and Chinese Corporation, Limited),\n(Signed) **W. KESWICK**, Chairman.\n\n[2525 0-2] \nPage 368", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 411894, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "page_number": 394, "title": "CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "content_text": "# AFFAIRS OF CHINA\n## CONFIDENTIAL\n(19899)\n\n### No. 1\n#### June 12, 1907\n##### SECTION 5\n\n**Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received June 17.)**\n\n**(No. 215. Confidential.)**\n\nPeking, May 2, 1907.\n\nI HAVE the honour to transmit to you herewith a statement which has been furnished to me confidentially by the \"Times\" correspondent, Dr. Morrison, of the duties collected under the Russian Provisional Administration of Newchwang, showing the balance which should now be in the Russo-Chinese Bank and is due to the Chinese Government.\n\nTaking the average value of the Haikuan tael for the four years from the 4th August, 1900, to the 25th July, 1904, at 2s. 9d., this statement shows that the total amount collected from the Maritime Customs during the period was 396,124l. Deducting the sum of 59,824l. for Customs maintenance, a balance is left of 336,300l. to be accounted for by the Russo-Chinese Bank.\n\nOf this balance 190,470l. was transferred to the Russian Government account in April 1903 on account of expenditure incurred in the administration of the Shanghae-Kuan-Newchwang-Hsinmintun Railway, and an item of 5,377l. under the head of Inland Steam Navigation collection appears also to fall to the Russian Government, leaving a net balance in the Russo-Chinese Bank of 140,453l.\n\nThe receipt for li-kin during the same period amounted to 89,485l., which sum was paid into the Administration account as soon as received. The expenditure on li-kin collection amounting to 1,584l., a balance should remain to the credit of the Administration of 87,901l.\n\nUnder the head of Native Customs the total receipts were 242,094l., and it does not seem to have been possible to ascertain the amount of expenditure on maintenance. The balance to be accounted for by the Russo-Chinese Bank is therefore unknown, but should amount to a minimum of 200,000l.\n\nTo sum up, the statement shows that the Russian Provisional Administration should have to account for 140,453l. under the head of Maritime Customs, and 87,901l. under that of li-kin, or 228,354l. altogether, besides an unknown amount under the head of Native Customs, which should be at least 200,000l.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) J. N. JORDAN.\n\n### Inclosure in No. 1\n\n**Statement of Collection, &c., under the Russian Provisional Administration of Newchwang.—From August 4, 1900, to July 25, 1904, paid into the Russo-Chinese Bank.**\n\n#### MARITIME CUSTOMS\n\n| Category | Hk. Taels | m. | c. | c. |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| (A.) I.—Amount collected from August 4, 1900, to December 31, 1903 | 2,669,016 | 2 | 9 | 1 |\n| II.—Ditto from January 1, 1904, to July 25, 1904: | | | | |\n| (a.) Import duties, exclusive of opium | 20,821 | | 8 | |\n| (b.) Export duties | 31 | | | |\n| (c.) Coast trade | | | | |\n| (d.) Opium— Foreign Tariff | 155,650 | 7 | 2 | 0 |\n| Treaty li-kin | 20,834 | 4 | 6 | 6 |\n| (e.) Tonnage dues | 3,576 | 7 | | |\n| (f.) Transit dues | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |\n| (g.) Inland Steam Navigation | 1,577 | 5 | 9 | 9 |\n| Native Export duties | 384 | | 8,868 | 3 | 5 | 6 |\n| Total | 2,880,903 | 6 | 4 | 0 |", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 412195, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "page_number": 695, "title": "CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "content_text": "## SECTION 4.\n\n### No. 1.\n\n**Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received July 29.)**\n\n(Translation.)\n\nSir,\n\n**Inclosure 10 in No. 1.**\n\n**Prince Ch'ing to Sir J. Jordan.**\n\nPeking, 33rd 5th month, 1st day year, (June 11, 1907).\n\nI HAVE the honour to acknowledge receipt of your Excellency's note of the 8th instant.\n\n[Quoted in full.]\n\nThe various Regulations in consultation with His Majesty's Consul-General at Canton and His Majesty's Consul at Wuchow.\n\nI would point out that Nanning is a port opened by China herself. Regulations should, therefore, be satisfactorily drawn up by the local officials themselves, and, after being sanctioned by the Board, be put into operation experimentally. There is no actual obligation to consult His Majesty's Consular authorities.\n\nAs regards Section 2, Article 1, which defines the boundaries, it is essential, since the place has been opened to foreign trade, that an area should be set apart for Chinese and foreign merchants to come together for trading purposes. It is precisely in the hope of attracting a numerous mercantile community that this has been done, and there has not been the slightest intention to obstruct.\n\nThe Board have addressed a communication to the Canton Viceroy and the Governor of Kuangsi, asking their Excellencies to investigate the circumstances and give due consideration to these Regulations, so as to make satisfactory arrangements as occasion arises.\n\nIn the meantime, I have the honour to reply to your Excellency's note, and avail, &c.\n\n(No. 285.)\n\nSir,\n\nPeking, June 12, 1907.\n\nWITH reference to my despatch No. 249 of the 28th ultimo, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith a translation of a note which I have received from the Wai-wu Pu respecting the practice to be adopted in the case of foreign goods conveyed between the open ports and the recently-opened marts in the interior of Manchuria.\n\nThis practice, which has received the approval of the Wai-wu Pu, is described in telegraphic instructions from the Viceroy at Tien-tsin in his capacity of Superintendent of Trade for the Northern Ports to the Taotai as Superintendent of Customs at Newchwang, and is to the effect that foreign goods imported into Manchuria through ports open to foreign trade, having paid import duty, may be transported to and laid down in the inland marts free of further taxation, provided they are covered by exemption certificates in which the name of the mart has been inserted by the Imperial Maritime Customs at the port of entry; in other words, the marts are, so far as the taxation of foreign goods is concerned, placed on the same footing as other open ports in China, and the Native Customs will attend to the examination of the goods pending the establishment of offices of the Imperial Maritime Customs at marts where such do not now exist.\n\nYou will observe that the Viceroy's instructions omit all reference to methods of transit, and, as they are presumably applicable to cart as well as railway traffic, it appears to me that the time limit of one month for the return of the exemption certificates to the ports of issue, suggested by the Revenue Council as a check against sales en route, may prove to be inadequate in the case of the more distant marts; but I am forwarding a copy of the Wai-wu Pu's note to His Britannic Majesty's Consul-General at Mukden, with a request that he will furnish me with his views on this point.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed) **J. N. JORDAN**\n\n### (Translation.)\n\nSir,\n\n**Inclosure in No. 1.**\n\n**Wai-wu Pu to Sir J. Jordan.**\n\nPeking, Kuang Hsü, 33rd year, 4th month, 28th day (June 8, 1907).\n\nIN a note dated the 25th ultimo the American Minister informed me that the Acting American Consul at Newchwang reported that li-kin was collected on foreign goods at Koupang-tzu when in transit by rail from Newchwang to Hsinmintun. The Acting Consul had requested the Commissioner of Customs at Newchwang to issue exemption certificates, but the Commissioner had declined to do so, as he was without definite information as to the opening of trade marts. Mr. Rockhill urged the Board to cause the Koupang-tzu li-kin office to be instructed to carry out Treaty provisions, and exempt foreign goods in transit from Newchwang to Hsinmintun by rail from payment of li-kin. His Excellency also requested that the Imperial Maritime Customs authorities at Newchwang should be directed to issue the exemption certificates applied for without delay, in order to free foreign goods in transit from one open port to another from every species of duty and li-kin charge, and expressed the hope that he might have a favourable reply at an early opportunity.\n\nThe Board were preparing their reply when they received a communication from the Revenue Council conveying a report from the Shanhaikuan Tantai to the Viceroy of Chihli stating that some days previously the Standard Oil Company had declined to pay li-kin on certain cases of kerosene oil on the railway between Newchwang and Hsinmintun upon arrival at the native Customs station at Koupang-tzu. The American Consul had... \n\n[2564 #-4] \n**CONFIDENTIAL**\n[25179]\n632\n[July 29.]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 412196, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "page_number": 696, "title": "CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "content_text": "## Confidential\n\n2 \n\nWritten to the Taotai claiming that Hsinmintun had been opened as a trade mart on the 10th October last, and that the stationing there of a Japanese Consul was proof positive of the existence of a trade mart; therefore no duties or taxes of any kind were payable on the railway line between the Treaty port of Newchwang and the trade mart of Hsinmintun. In reply to the request of the Taotai for instructions, the Viceroy sent the following telegram :- \n\n\"As a large number of trade marts have been recently opened in Manchuria, the majority of which are inland. All goods arriving at those marts have, generally speaking, to pass through the interior on their way from the coast ports. As it concerns foreign merchants, Treaty provisions must be followed. Whenever foreign goods are taken to the trade marts the import duty must be paid, and whenever foreign goods are sent into the interior transit dues must be paid in addition. No special regulations have at present been adopted for the Manchurian trade marts, and this question of special regulations must be arranged in connection with the whole question of trade marts before anything can be done. The opening of Hsinmintun as a trade mart was notified last year, but no Customs has yet been established there. In future, where foreign goods which have already obtained import duty certificates at the Newchwang Customs are reconsigned to other places which are open marts, the Newchwang Customs authorities must insert on the certificate the name of the mart or destination. When in transit through the interior, Native Customs stations must examine the original packages and goods, and if they are intact will pass them. Upon arrival at their destination, in the case of marts where there are as yet no Customs stations, the goods must be examined by the Native Customs offices already existing, after which, if found correct, they may be opened and sold without further taxation. If the examination discloses any false representation, the penalty will be confiscation of the goods. \n\n\"At marts where custom-houses have already been established the goods must be dealt with according to Customs procedure. \n\n\"In the case of foreign goods conveyed into the interior from Newchwang, transit dues must be paid according to established rule, and the various Native Customs stations en route will pass the goods after examining the transit certificates. Goods not accompanied by transit certificates will be required to pay internal dues.\" \n\nThe above instructions were to be carried out by the Taotai while the Viceroy referred the matter to the consideration of the Revenue Council, who, having devoted considerable attention to the question, fully approve the eminently satisfactory method of procedure laid down by the Viceroy in his telegram to the Taotai. The Council, however, consider that a period of one month should be fixed within which the Native Customs stations in the various trade marts shall, after having verified the goods and satisfied themselves that they have not been tampered with, affix their seals and return the certificates to the issuing port to be cancelled, so as to guard against sales en route. \n\nThe Revenue Council having notified the Board of this method of procedure, I have the honour to inform your Excellency accordingly, and avail, &c. \n\n(Signed) **Prince CHING** \n\n### Confidential\n\n7 \n\nThe Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs presents his compliments to the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, India, and is directed by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to transmit the accompanying sections of printed confidential correspondence. \n\nForeign Office, \nAugust 28th, 1904 \n\n[ 21 ] \n633", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 415909, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 74, "title": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nC. O.\n\n71\n\n9519\n\nCHINA RAILWAYS.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n17 MAR 02\n\n[January 25.]\n\nSECTION 4.\n\n(2710)\n\nNo. 1.\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received January 25, 1908.)\n\n(No. 576. Confidential.)\n\nPeking, December 10, 1907. Sir,\n\nWITH reference to my despatch No. 559 of the 27th November and my telegram No. 210 of the 4th December, regarding the draft Agreement entered into by Messrs. Pauling and Co. and the British and Chinese Corporation with the Viceroy of Manchuria for extending the Northern Railway from Hsinminting to Fakumen, I have the honour to report that Lord Ffrench has represented to me the importance of obtaining from the Wai-wu Pu some statement of their intended line of action in this matter, as the survey could be carried out with greater advantage during the winter months.\n\nAs stated in my telegram No. 210, I was not in favour of taking any action until some further move was made, either by the Wai-wu Pu or the Japanese Government, and you were pleased to concur in this view in your telegram to me of the 6th December, No. 132.\n\nThe opposition of the Japanese Minister to the construction of such a line is based, I presume, upon the Agreements between the Japanese and Chinese Governments in December 1905, which were partially communicated to His Majesty's Ambassador at Tôkiô in the spring of 1906 by Mr. Kato, and which formed the subject of Sir Claude MacDonald's despatch to the Foreign Office, No. 72 of the 10th April, 1906.\n\nAccording to Article 3 of Mr. Kato's Memorandum, inclosed in that despatch, China engaged, for the purpose of protecting the interest of the South Manchurian Railway, not to construct any main line in the neighbourhood of, or parallel to, that railway, or any branch line prejudicial thereto.\n\nThe further extension of the Northern Railway was contemplated by the Anglo-Chinese Loan Agreement of the 10th October, 1898, Article 3, and I think we can reasonably hold that subsequent engagements in the interest of a railway which is now purely Japanese cannot be constructed to block a legitimate extension of the Chinese railway system on this side of the Liao River, and to exclude British enterprise from the development of Manchuria. The region which would be tapped by the proposed extension is at present entirely lacking in adequate means of communication, and the line at its most eastern point would be, I understand, over 30 miles to the west of the South Manchurian Railway.\n\nWith these considerations in mind, I came to the conclusion that if an opportunity presented itself I might sound the Wai-wu Pu as to their intentions, since they showed no inclination to mention the subject to me.\n\nI accordingly touched upon the question to-day in conversation with the Grand Secretary Na Tung and Mr. Lien Fang, representing that the contractors, Messrs. Pauling and Co., would be glad to get to work while the season of the year was in their favour.\n\nThe Grand Secretary stated that the Wai-wu Pu had not yet memorialized the Throne for a Decree. The Viceroy of Manchuria was now travelling in the northern provinces, so they had received no recent communication from him on the subject. They would consult with Yuan Shih-k'ai and the Board of Communications, and would reply later to my inquiry.\n\nI am sending a copy of this despatch to His Majesty's Ambassador at Tôkiô, with a paraphrase of my telegram No. 210.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.\n\n[2815 66-4]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 415926, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 91, "title": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "2\n\nmust be controlled by the Chinese Central Railways, the above proposal could still be realized, but in that case the Paris office of the Chinese Central Railways would manage the Hankow-Peking concern, the London office of the new Company to be formed having the management of the Hankow-Canton line. All profits accruing from the Hankow-Peking line would, in that case, belong to the Chinese Central Railways, whereas the profits of the Hankow-Canton line would go to the new Company to be formed.\n\nIn any case, a French Company would be formed which would take up, amongst other aims in China, the rights granted to the French group by the Hankow-Canton Agreement.\n\nThe said French Company would, at the proper time, discuss with the British and Chinese Corporation the allotment, either re the Hankow-Canton Railway or re the whole of the Peking-Hankow-Canton line, of the rights to be respectively exercised by the English group and by the French group according to the above-mentioned basis.\n\nIf Mr. Addis' group agrees to these proposals, it would be useful that he should let it be known to Mr. Simon without delay, in order that the latter may settle the matter and take the necessary steps with the French Foreign Office, so that the latter may instruct the French Minister in Peking to support the negotiations of the British and Chinese Corporation's representative specially as regards the Hankow-Peking concern.\n\n[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nCHINA RAILWAYS.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[5951]\n\nNo. 1.\n\n[February 20.]\n\nSECTION 2.\n\nBritish and Chinese Corporation to Foreign Office.-(Received February 20.)\n\nSir,\n\n22, Abchurch Lane, London, February 19, 1908.\n\nWE beg leave to request that the following statement may be laid before Sir Edward Grey:\n\nIn November last, in order to meet the trade requirements of the region in which Fakumen is situated, the Viceroy of Manchuria concluded an Agreement with Messrs. Pauling and Co. (Limited), contractors, of Westminster, for the construction by them of 50 miles of railway, from Hsinminting (the present head of the Imperial Railways of North China) to Fakumen, a town on the same (west) side of the Liao River.\n\nAt the same time the Viceroy of Manchuria concluded an Agreement with the British and Chinese Corporation to issue on behalf of the Imperial Chinese Government a loan of 500,000l., to meet the cost of constructing the contemplated extension,\n\nThe Japanese Minister immediately entered a protest against the construction of the railway, on the ground that the Chinese Government had given an undertaking to the Japanese Government in 1905 not to construct any main or branch line of railway competing detrimentally with the South Manchurian Railway.\n\nWe beg leave to inclose herewith a Report by our consulting engineers, Sir John Wolfe Barry and Mr. A. J. Barry, in which they show that the proposed extension cannot with any reason be held to infringe the Chinese undertaking of 1905.\n\nWe also beg leave to quote the concluding clause of a memorandum which Mr. Bland, our representative in Peking, submitted to His Majesty's Minister in Peking last December:-\n\n\"The proposed extension of the Imperial Railways of North China is intended to tap a region which is at present without outlet; not one-tenth of its potential trade can be developed without improved means of communication. The line at its most eastern point will be considerably over 30 miles to the west of the South Manchurian Railway, separated therefrom by the Liao River, so that the alleged detrimental competition with the South Manchurian Railway cannot be seriously regarded. Only by asserting a claim to construct branch lines westwards could the Japanese railway obtain the trade of this region. By recognized practice throughout the civilized world the proposed extension of the Chinese railway system is legitimate and usual, and to dispute China's right thus to promote her interests must involve the admission of an exclusive policy such as that which characterized the policy of Russia before the war.'\n\nWe are fully in accord with the opinions expressed by the consulting engineers and Mr. Bland, and would further ask your permission to state that we can hardly believe it possible that the arrangement concluded by the Governments of Japan and China (to which reference has been made) contemplated placing China in the position of being unable to develop, for commercial purposes, a valuable and important section of the province in which the suggested railway would be constructed.\n\nWe venture to express the hope that the facts now submitted may appeal to Sir E. Grey, and that he may see his way to take such steps as he may consider proper to induce the Japanese to withdraw their opposition to this legitimate piece of railway construction urgently needed for trade purposes.\n\nWe are, &c.\n\nThe British and Chinese Corporation (Limited),\n\n(Signed) W. KESWICK, Chairman.\n\n[2856 u-2]\n\n88", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 415927, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 92, "title": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "DOMESTIC.\n\n2\n\nInclosure in No. 1.\n\nSir J. W. Barry and Mr. A. J. Barry to British and Chinese Corporation.\n\nGentlemen,\n\n7, The Sanctuary, Westminster, February 18, 1908.\n\nWITH reference to the suggestion which we understand has been made, viz., that the proposed extension of the Northern Chinese Railway from Hsinminting to Fakumen would be competitive with the Southern Manchurian Railway, we would point out that the proposed railway, being on the west side of the Liao Ho, would serve a district quite distinct from that from which the Southern Manchurian Railway draws any traffic.\n\nThe Liao Ho forms an effective barrier against any local traffic finding its way from the country to the west of that river to the Southern Manchurian Railway eastwards of the same.\n\nAt the present time all the local produce of the country westwards of the Liao Ho through which the proposed extension would run is carried by cart to Sinminting, and is there placed on the Imperial Chinese Northern Railway.\n\nThe construction of the proposed extension could not fail to develop a fertile area badly in need of better transport, whilst it would also link up the important town of Fakumen (which has a population of from 30,000 to 40,000) with the railway system of North China, and by means of the Hsinminting-Mukden loop line, now under construction, with all the trade centres served by the Southern Manchurian Railway.\n\nIn our opinion, therefore, whilst the proposed extension could in no sense be regarded as competitive to the Southern Manchurian Railway, it would really act as a feeder to the railway system.\n\nThere is another point which should also be borne in mind, viz., that a very heavy bean traffic is brought in native boats down the Liao River to Fakumen from districts further north and west. From Fakumen these boats continue their journey down the river to Newchwang, but none of the traffic carried by them finds its way on to the Southern Manchurian line. Owing to difficulties of navigation below Fakumen there are times when an enormous number of native boats are held up at Fakumen.\n\nIf the proposed railway were constructed it is only natural to expect that a very large proportion of this traffic would find its way to the railway there, and that the additional facilities thus offered would prove a stimulus to the industry of the country in which this traffic now originates.\n\nInasmuch as some proportion of this traffic would find its way eastward from Hsinminting and get on to the Southern Manchurian Railway at Mukden, the fact that the proposed extension would be a feeder to, rather than a competitor with, the latter railway, is, we think, fairly demonstrated.\n\nIt is perhaps possible that the fear of competition arose from the idea that it was contemplated to carry the extension on to Tsitsihar. Tsitsihar is more than 300 miles from Fakumen, and we do not suppose that there is any likelihood of such a proposition being seriously put forward. But, even if it were, no competition could arise except in regard to through traffic.\n\nThe proposed extension to Fakumen, even if at some future time it were prolonged 200 miles or so north and a very much greater distance west, would only become a still more valuable feeder line to the Southern Manchurian Railway, whilst at the same time it would form a most valuable stimulus to the development of the commerce and industry of Manchuria by affording a much-wanted means of transport to a part of the country where at present practically none exists.\n\nWe have, &c. (For the Consulting Engineers),\n\n(Signed) A. J. BARRY.\n\nOffice sa Idrickavet.\n\nForeign\n\n1908\n\n11 Mich.\n\nLast previous Paper.\n\n100\n\nPutly\n\nHONG KONG\n\nSTRAITS\n\nNo. 8868\n\n(Subject.)\n\nRece\n\n89\n\nC. 0.\n\n8366\n\n1P 12 MAR 08\n\nChinese Currency Reform\n\nSends desp. tr. Pekin enclosing Decres 30 Decor calling for expression of opinions from the provincial authorities, as the he on Comage the.\n\nM2 72.8803 to whether the national\n\nthe basis of\n\n(Minutes.)\n\nPut by\n\nа\n\nalone\n\ntask or\n\nHTH.\n\nD\n\ndollas aven\n\n1000015-17. 25. Lud,—20362--\n\n25003-11-7.\n\n23312-W. & S. j-250-\n\n25000-11-47.\n\nNext subsequent Paper.\n\nyo.\n\n2442", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 415991, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 156, "title": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.)\n\n# CHINA RAILWAYS.\n\n**CONFIDENTIAL.**\n\n10573 [January 31.]\n\n153\n\nSecrid 25 MAR 08.\n\n[3456]\n\nNo. 1.\n\nSir,\n\nMessrs. Pauling and Co. to Foreign Office.-(Received January 31.)\n\n26, Victoria Street, London, January 30, 1908.\n\nWITH reference to the interview held by Mr. C. Somers Cox with Mr. Percy Browne in connection with the Hsinmintun-Fakumen Railway, we have the honour to inform you that it was by our instructions that the latter gentleman, since Lord ffrench's departure for China, has seen you on various occasions on the subject-matters of cables received from Lord ffrench regarding the above railway.\n\nMr. Percy Browne is an intimate friend of Lord ffrench, and has been known to our firm for many years, and, with your permission, we should be glad to continue to avail ourselves of his services in calling upon you and discussing Chinese railway matters with you on our behalf.\n\nWe need hardly say, however, should matters arise requiring official action to be taken, Mr. George Pauling, of our firm, would himself call upon you.\n\nMay we take this opportunity of bringing to your notice that the Agreement made by the Chinese Government with our firm regarding the above-named railway is the first occasion on which British contractors have obtained the offer of direct employment from the Chinese Government, not as concessionnaires or would-be concessionnaires, but simply as contractors to carry out public works required by the Chinese Government, and that, therefore, it will create, in our opinion, a most serious precedent if the Japanese Government be now allowed to dictate to the Chinese Government with the object of preventing contracts granted to British subjects from being carried out?\n\nWe have been informed categorically by Lord ffrench, who is acting in this matter in co-operation with the representatives of the British and Chinese Corporation and the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, of the following material facts, which, we respectfully think, will be deemed by you as throwing a new light on that portion of the Japanese protest which is based upon their allegation that the Hsinmintun-Fakumen line would be a competitor with their South Manchurian Railway.\n\nThe town of Fakumen has a population of 40,000 people; the whole district is closely cultivated; and, owing to the fact that the Liao River is deep and unfordable, and forms a natural traffic boundary, shutting off this district from the Japanese Manchurian railway system, the trade of this district goes by road exclusively to Hsinmintun, the nearest railway terminus. The substitution of railway transport for road transport surely cannot be regarded as forming a competition! This allegation, therefore, by the Japanese that the construction of this extension from Hsinmintun to Fakumen constitutes the creation of a competing line to their South Manchurian system must be held to be groundless.\n\nAs will be known to you, a line is to be constructed by the Chinese from Hsinmintun to Mukden. All the new traffic that will be brought down from the Fakumen district to Hsinmintun by rail instead of road must there be distributed—in what proportions it is impossible to say, but unquestionably a considerable proportion will pass thenceforth from Hsinmintun to Mukden, and so over the Japanese Manchurian system. Indeed, the Fakumen extension will become a contributor or feeder to the Japanese system.\n\nThe above facts tend strongly, in our opinion, to show that the Japanese protest is really based upon their adoption of a policy of railway exclusion, very much the same as animated the Russian Government before the late war.\n\nThe perusal also of the clause in the informal arrangement, alleged by the Japanese to have been signed in 1905-6, clearly indicates that, if there was a stipulation, it was strictly limited to the non-construction of a competing line in Manchuria. From the arguments set forth above, we think we have established the fact that the Hsinmintun-Fakumen extension will not constitute a competing line, but, on the contrary, a contributing line, to the traffic of the Japanese Manchurian system. And, if this be so, the construction of this extension is in no way forbidden by the 1905 Treaty nor by the alleged informal arrangement; and our firm, as British subjects, having obtained the contract for this construction from the Chinese Government,\n\n[2815 hh-1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 415992, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 157, "title": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "154\n\nC. O.\n\ntherefore most respectfully and earnestly ask for the intervention of His Majesty's Government in the matter.\n\nWe have the honour to point out that, in our opinion, if the present action of the Japanese Government is acquiesced in by His Majesty's Government, it must have far-reaching effects in discouraging the Chinese Government from dealing with British contractors, and we have reasons for believing that, if His Majesty's Government will, either by entering a protest or by strong representations to the Japanese Government, show their disapproval of the policy now being pursued by Japan, the Japanese Government will most probably withdraw from their present attitude of opposition to the construction of the Hsinmintun-Fakumen extension, because the British interests involved in this contract are of first-class and far-reaching importance to future British commercial enterprises in China.\n\nWe have, &c.\n\nFor Pauling and Co. (Limited),\n\n(Signed) J. M. SCOTT, Secretary.\n\n[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.\n\nCHINA RAILWAYS.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[3993]\n\nNo. 1.\n\n[January 5.]\n\nTHEE 25 MAR 08 SECTION 2.\n\nSir D. Brynmor Jones, M.P., to Foreign Office.--(Received February 5.)\n\nDear Sir,\n\n27, Bryanston Square, W., February 4, 1908.\n\nI AM much obliged for your letter of the 16th January. Since I received it I have been looking at the Treaty between this country and Japan and other documents.\n\nThe Anglo-Japanese Treaty of the 12th August, 1905, clearly lays down the maintenance of the \"independence and integrity\" of the Chinese Empire as one of its objects.\n\nThe contention is that any Agreement which Japan may have induced the Chinese Government to make which limits its freedom of action is a breach of Japan's duty to the United Kingdom under the Anglo-Japanese Treaty.\n\nA Railway Convention that binds China not to construct a railway parallel to the South Manchurian Railway (no limits of longitude being laid down) prevents any development of North China (so far as railway works are concerned), except with the consent of Japan.\n\nI cannot assent to the proposition that the question of new railways in China is one primarily for arrangement between China and Japan, except, of course, in the sense that every bargain is primarily one for arrangement between the parties to it.\n\nI need hardly say that I have no private interest in the extension of the railway in question; but on public grounds I trust that the Government will make such representations as will induce Japan to withdraw pressure on China, which is being exercised most unfairly to the detriment of the interests of British subjects.\n\nI am, &c. (Signed) D. BRYNMOR JONES.\n\n[2856 e-2]\n\n1", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 415994, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 159, "title": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.\n\n10573\n\n156\n\nCHINA RAILWAYS.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[5360]\n\nNo. 1.\n\n[February 10.]\n\n08\n\nSECTION 1.\n\nMessrs. Pauling and Co. to Foreign Office.-(Received February 15.)\n\n26, Victoria Street, Westminster, London, February 14, 1908.\n\nSir,\n\nWE have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 12th February, and note with great regret the decision that His Majesty's Government have come to with regard to the extension of the Chinese Imperial Railway from Hsinmintun to Fakumen.\n\nThe construction of this 50 mile extension could only increase the existing volume of traffic and trade that passes by road to Hsinmintun, the present railway terminus, and thence confessedly an increased traffic, and not a lessened one, must pass also to Mukden and to the Japanese South Manchurian system to its benefit.\n\nThe construction of this extension cannot be therefore possibly deemed as prejudicial to the South Manchurian system, nor consequently constitute a breach of the Protocol referred to in your letter under reply. We therefore deeply regret that, notwithstanding these facts, His Majesty's Government refuse to assist us in the matter.\n\nWe venture respectfully to say that, were it a case of a British Concession being injured by competition, His Majesty's Government would decide the question, and rightly so decide it, on the actual railway facts applicable to the case; and as we have so far not heard of a single reason advanced by the Japanese Government why the extension now proposed could prejudicially affect their South Manchurian Railway traffic, we trusted naturally that, in the absence of all such reasons, His Majesty's Government would assist us in the dispute that has occurred between China and Japan.\n\nIt has caused us the greatest surprise to learn that His Majesty's Government consider the Japanese decision on the question is alone to be taken into account by it. Surely, although China may be the less important of the two Powers involved in this dispute, that should not, in our humble opinion, preclude it from being heard in the matter, nor prevent His Majesty's Government giving due consideration to any representations which China may make to His Majesty's Government.\n\nThat the Japanese Plenipotentiary, in the informal Agreement signed, we believe, some months after the conclusion of the actual Treaty, really had this particular extension of 50 miles in mind appears to us very surprising, because such an admittedly able statesman as Yuan-Shi-Kai is the Plenipotentiary concerned, both in the Treaty and in the subsequent informal Agreement, and is now the advocate of the construction of this extension on behalf of his Government, and therefore presumably may be quite as correct in his interpretation of the Protocol as the Japanese Plenipotentiary alleges that he is.\n\nWe must repeat once more most respectfully that we consider the Japanese action in this matter to be entirely at variance with the Protocol referred to in your letter, and with Article IV of the Portsmouth Treaty of Peace, and with paragraph B of the Preamble of the Japanese Treaty of 1905.\n\nWe have communicated with Lord ffrench in the sense indicated in your letter, and we beg to acknowledge, with an assurance of our sincere thanks, the promises His Majesty's Government has been good enough to give us, reiterating its desire to continue its assistance to Lord ffrench whenever possible.\n\nIn conclusion, we must beg most respectfully to say, from information cabled to us by Lord ffrench, that when it becomes known that His Majesty's Government have decided against taking up this case, in which British commercial interests of great importance are involved, that decision will be found to so prejudicially affect English enterprises in China as to invite a considerable measure of public and adverse comment there.\n\nWe beg, &c. Pauling and Co. (Limited),\n\n(Signed)\n\nJ. M. SCOTT, Secretary.\n\n[2856 p-1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416008, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 173, "title": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nCHINA RAILWAYS.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[3456]\n\nNo. 1.\n\n[February 12.]\n\nSECTION 1.\n\n170\n\nSir,\n\nForeign Office to Messrs. Pauliny and Co.\n\nForeign Office, February 12, 1908.\n\nI am directed by Secretary Sir E. Grey to acknowledge the receipt of your letters of the 30th ultimo and of the 4th instant on the subject of your proposed contract with the Chinese Government for the extension of the Imperial Railways of North China from Hsinminting to Fakumen.\n\nIt has been ascertained that the agreement not to construct any line parallel to or prejudicial to the interests of the South Manchurian Railway was recorded in a Protocol signed by the Chinese and Japanese Governments, by which the former are clearly bound. In Sir E. Grey's opinion, the question whether the proposed line would or would not injuriously affect the South Manchurian Railway is one for the decision of the Japanese Government. His Majesty's Government would certainly assume such a position if the question arose of the construction of a line competing with a British Railway Concession in China.\n\nHis Majesty's Government have now been informed that this particular project is one which the Japanese specially had in view when negotiating the Protocol referred to above, and, with every desire to further where possible British enterprise in China, they are therefore unable to support it in the absence of any agreement between the Chinese and Japanese having been come to respecting it.\n\nIn these circumstances, I am to suggest that your agent in China, Lord ffrench, should consult with His Majesty's Minister there. Instructions in this sense have been sent to His Majesty's Minister as to the best course to pursue in the matter. Sir J. Jordan already has instructions to assist him, and His Majesty's Government desire to continue their assistance whenever it can properly be given.\n\n[2856 -1]\n\nI am, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n\nF. A. CAMPBELL.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416009, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 174, "title": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "171\n\nHis Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nCHINA RAILWAYS.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[7660]\n\nNo. 1.\n\n[March 5.]\n\nSECTION 1.\n\nSir,\n\nBritish and Chinese Corporation to Foreign Office.-(Received March 5.)\n\n22, Abchurch Lane, London, March 4, 1908.\n\nIN the letter which we took leave to address to you on the 19th ultimo, re Imperial Railways of North China, we quoted a portion of a Memorandum which Mr. Bland, our representative in Peking, had submitted to His Majesty's Minister in Peking last December, in which he contended that the statement of the Japanese that the proposed extension to Fakumen would be detrimental to the South Manchurian Railway, could not be sustained.\n\nWe now beg leave to submit an extract from a letter which the Directors of the Corporation have lately received from Mr. Bland, dated Peking, the 10th February, and we beg that it may be submitted to Sir Edward Grey :-\n\n\"In reference to this matter, it is claimed by the Japanese Government that a supplementary Article of the Manchurian Convention of 1905, formally accepted by the Chinese Government, debars the latter from undertaking any extension of the Northern Railways, and the Japanese Minister has definitely stated that, if the work is begun, it will be forcibly stopped. The clause on which the Japanese Government relies reads as follows:-\n\n\"The Chinese Government engage, for the purpose of protecting the South Manchurian Railway, not to construct, prior to the recovery by them of the said railway, any main line in the neighbourhood of and parallel to that railway, or any branch line which might be prejudicial to the interests of the above-mentioned railway.\n\n\"The Wai-wu Pu do not deny the authenticity of this supplementary Article (publication whereof, according to the Japanese Minister, was withheld at the request of the Chinese Government), but they hold that it is not applicable to the proposed extension of the northern line on the grounds (1) that the Manchurian Convention was never intended to be effective outside the sphere of Japanese military occupation or to the west of the Liao River; (2) that, as the Northern Railways were first in the field, and have suffered severely from the competition of the South Manchurian line, it were absurd to apply this prohibitory clause to the long-established Chinese Government line, or to prevent the legitimate development of Chinese territory in a thickly populated country where no means of communication exist; (3) that the Russians objected to the Sinminting extension on political, not on economic grounds, and subsequently withdrew their opposition; and, (4), that the proposed extension cannot in any case seriously compete, since the Liao River forms a natural barrier between the country to be traversed and that served by the South Manchurian Railway.\"\n\nWe are, &c.\n\nPer pro. the British and Chinese Corporation (Limited),\n\n(Signed) W. KESWICK, Chairman.\n\n[2880 e-1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416107, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 272, "title": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "The Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\nNo. 1.\n\n[March 24.]\n\nSECTION 1.\n\nQuestion asked in the House of Commons, March 24, 1908.\n\nLyttelton,-To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the attention of His Majesty's Government has been directed to the protest raised by the General Chamber of Commerce of Niu-chwang against the attitude of Japan in forbidding the construction by China of the Hsinmintun-Fakumen Railway; is His Majesty's Government in possession of a copy of the alleged Agreement by which Japan claims the right of vetoing the construction of that railway; was it received simultaneously with the receipt of the Chinese-Japanese Treaty of 1905, and, if not, when was it received by His Majesty's Government, and does it bear the signature of the Plenipotentiaries of the Chinese Japanese Treaty of 1905; and, if the alleged Agreement does not bear these signatures, has it any validity.\n\nAnswer.\n\nThe reply to the first part is in the affirmative. His Majesty's Government are in possession of the text of the clause of the Protocol by which Japan claims the right of vetoing the construction of the Hsinmintun-Fakumen Railway. It runs as follows:---\n\nThe Chinese Government engage, for the purpose of protecting the interest of the South Manchurian Railway, not to construct, prior to the recovery by them of the said railway, any main line in the neighbourhood of, and parallel to, that railway, or any branch line which might be prejudicial to the interest of the above-mentioned railway.\n\nThis was communicated to His Majesty's Government in April 1906, shortly after the Treaty referred to by the right honourable Member. We are informed that the Protocol bears the signatures of the Chinese Representatives; there can be no doubt of its validity.\n\nPage 268\n\n1260]\n\n-1]\n\n[2880 aa-]\n\nPage 269", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416354, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 519, "title": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nCHINA RAILWAYS.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[13254]\n\nNo. 1.\n\n[April 16.]\n\nSECTION 1.\n\n(No. 143.) Sir,\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received April 16.)\n\nPeking, March 25, 1908.\n\nI HAVE the honour to inclose copy of an Agreement which was signed to-day by the Administrator-General of Northern Railways and Mr. Bland, on behalf of the British and Chinese Corporation, for the release of an unexpended balance of Northern Railway loan funds; and also a copy of a letter from Mr. Bland to the Administrator-General on the subject of this Agreement.\n\nUnder the Loan Agreement of the 10th October, 1898, the proceeds of the loan were to be applied to the construction of certain railways, including a branch line from Nu-erh-ho to prospective collieries at Nanpiao. The terms of the Agreement have been fulfilled up to date, except that the Nu-erh-ho-Nanpiao branch line has not been constructed, the reason assigned being that the Nanpiao coal has been ascertained to be unsuitable for railway purposes. There is still lying in the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation in London an unexpended balance of the loan amounting to over 150,000l., which is about the estimated cost of the Nu-erh-ho-Nanpiao line, and the deed which I inclose is intended to discharge the Chinese Government from the obligation of the Loan Agreement to construct that branch line, and to free the unexpended balance for other specified purposes connected with the welfare of the Imperial Railways of North China.\n\nThe interest of the bondholders being concerned, the sanction of the High Court in England to the Agreement will be necessary, and I understand from Mr. Bland that proceedings will be commenced forthwith for this purpose.\n\nThe Agreement seems to me to be a very fair one under the circumstances, and I have no hesitation in recommending the adoption of any proper steps which may facilitate the sanction of the High Court.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(For His Majesty's Minister),\n\n(Signed) STEPHEN LEECH.\n\nInclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nyear of\n\nThis Agreement is made at Peking on the 23rd day of the 2nd month of the 34th Kuang Hsü, corresponding to the 25th day of March, 1908, between the Director-General of the Imperial Railways Office of the Board of Communications, hereinafter referred to as the \"Director-General,\" of the one part, and the British and Chinese Corporation (Limited), hereinafter called the \"Corporation,\" of the other part.\n\nWhereas:\n\n1. In the year 1899 the Chinese Imperial Railway 5 per Cent. Gold Loan was issued for the total sum of 2,300,000l. in 23,000 bearer bonds of 100l. each, the said loan being unconditionally guaranteed by the Imperial Government of China, and each of the said bonds being sealed by the Chinese Minister in London and being, by the terms of the bond, declared to be entitled to a first charge upon the permanent way, rolling stock, and entire property, with the freight and earning of the then existing railway lines then partly constructed or in the course of construction or about to be constructed from Shanhaikuan to Sinminting, and from a point on the last-mentioned line near Shih-san-chan to Yingtzu and (by way of a branch line) from Nu-erh-ho to the collieries of Nanpiao, and each of the said bonds being expressed to be issued subject to and with the benefit of the Agreement next hereinafter stated.\n\n2. Under an Agreement (hereinafter called the \"Loan Agreement\"), dated the 10th October, 1898, and made between his Excellency Hu, Governor of Peking, as Director-General of the Railways of North China within and without Shanhaikuan,\n\n[2934 q-1]\n\n512", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416435, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 600, "title": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "Inclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nSHANGHAE-HANGCHOW-NINGPO RAILWAY.\n\nLoan Agreement.\n\nTHIS Agreement is made at Peking on the 4th day of the 2nd month of the 34th year of Kuang Hsü, corresponding to the 6th day of March, 1908, and the Contracting Parties are the Wai-wu Pu (Board of Foreign Affairs) and the Yuchuan Pu (Board of Communications), acting under the authority of an Imperial Decree, of the one part, and the British and Chinese Corporation (Limited), hereinafter called \"the Corporation,\" of the other part.\n\nArticle 1. The Imperial Government of China authorizes the Corporation to issue a 5 per cent. gold loan for the amount of 1,500,000l. The loan shall be of the date on which it is issued to the public, and shall be called \"The Imperial Chinese Government 5 per Cent. Shanghae-Hangchow-Ningpo Railway Loan.”\n\nArt. 2. The loan is designed to provide capital for the construction of a railway line (hereinafter called \"the railway\") from a point connecting with the Shanghae-Nanking Railway at or near Shanghae in Kiangsu to the cities of Hangchow and Ningpo in Chekiang. The railway shall follow a line from Shanghae through Feng Ching Chen to Kashing-fu, and thence to Hushu and Hangchow, and thence from Chiang Kan to Ningpo, on which line certain construction work has already been locally undertaken under authority of the Imperial Chinese Government.\n\nThe survey line shall be open to revision by the Yuchuan Pu.\n\nArt. 3. The Chinese Government guarantees that the capital so provided shall be solely devoted to the construction of the railway, including the purchase of rolling-stock and other equipment, and to the working of the line during construction; it is understood, however, that the cost of the land required for the railway and the payment of interest on the loan during construction are not to be met out of loan funds, but will be paid by the Imperial Chinese Government from other sources. It is understood that the railway will be completed within three years from the date of signature of this Agreement, and that within a period of six months from that date the Corporation shall notify the Yuchuan Pu that the sum of 100,000l. has been placed at their disposal, to be held in Europe or remitted to China as they may direct, as a first instalment on account of the proceeds of the loan. This amount of 100,000l., or whatever portion thereof is actually advanced, together with interest thereon not exceeding a charge of 6 per cent. per annum, shall be deducted from the proceeds of the sale of the bonds.\n\nArt. 4. The rate of interest for the loan shall be 5 per cent. per annum on the nominal principal, and shall be paid to the bondholders half-yearly. The said interest shall be calculated from the date on which the loan is issued to the public, and shall be paid by the Imperial Chinese Government during the time of construction from Chinese sources, and afterwards, in the first place, out of the revenues of the railway, and should these be insufficient, then from the surplus earnings of the Imperial Railways of North China (excluding the section of the Hsinmintun-Mukden line to the east of the Liao River), and thereafter, if necessary, from such other revenues as the Chinese Government may see fit to use for the purpose, in half-yearly instalments, according to the amounts specified in the Schedule attached to this Agreement, and fourteen days before their due dates, Western Calendar, as calculated half-yearly from the date on which the loan is issued to the public.\n\nArt. 5. The term of the loan shall be thirty years. Repayment of principal shall commence after the expiry of ten years from the date of the loan, and, except as provided in Article 6 hereinafter, shall be made by yearly amortization to the Hong Kong and Shanghae Banking Corporation in half-yearly instalments out of the revenues of the railway, and should these be insufficient, then from the surplus earnings of the Imperial Railways of North China (excluding the section of the Hsinmintun-Mukden line to the east of the Liao River), and thereafter, if necessary, from such other revenues as the Imperial Chinese Government may think fit to use for the purpose, according to the amounts specified in the Schedule attached to this Agreement, and fourteen days before their due dates, Western Calendar, as calculated half-yearly from the date on which the loan is issued to the public.\n\nArt. 6. If, at any time after the lapse of ten years from the date of the loan, the Imperial Chinese Government should desire to redeem the whole outstanding amount of the loan, or any portion of it not yet due for repayment in accordance with the Schedule of Repayments hereto attached, it may do so until the twentieth year by payment of a premium of 2½ per cent. on the face-value of the bonds (that is to say, by payment of 102l. 10s. for each 100l. bond), and after the twentieth year without premium; but in each and every case of such extra redemption the Imperial Chinese Government shall give six months' notice in writing to the Corporation, and such redemption shall be effected by additional drawings of bonds, to take place on the date of an ordinary drawing as provided for in the prospectus of the loan.\n\nArt. 7. The Hong Kong and Shanghae Banking Corporation having been appointed by the British and Chinese Corporation (Limited) agents for the service of the loan, the half-yearly payments due for amortization and interest referred to in Articles 4 and 5 shall be made in accordance with the amounts of the Schedule attached to this Agreement, and fourteen days before their due dates as fixed by Articles 4 and 5, to the Hong Kong and Shanghae Banking Corporation by the Yuchuan Pu or its duly appointed representative, who shall hand to the said bank in Shanghae, fourteen days before the said due dates, funds in Shanghae sycee sufficient to meet such payments in sterling in London, exchange for which shall be settled with the bank; the Yuchuan Pu, or its duly appointed representative, having, however, the option of settling exchange with the bank at any date or dates within six months previous to any due date for the repayment of interest and principal. These payments may, however, be made in gold if the Imperial Chinese Government should happen to have gold funds bona fide at their disposal in Europe, not remitted from China for the purpose, and desire so to use them.\n\nIn reimbursement of expenses connected with the payment of interest and the repayment of principal of the loan, the Hong Kong and Shanghae Banking Corporation will receive a commission of ¼ per cent. on the annual loan service.\n\nArt. 8. The Imperial Government of China hereby engages that the interest and principal of this loan shall be duly paid in full, and should the revenues of the railway, together with the surplus earnings of the Imperial Railways of North China (excluding the section of the Hsinmintun-Mukden line to the east of the Liao River), not be sufficient to provide for the due and full payment of interest and repayment of principal, the Yuchuan Pu shall memorialize the Throne, and the Imperial Government of China will thereupon make arrangements to insure that the amount of deficiency shall be met from other sources and handed over to the bank at the date upon which funds are required to complete full payment of interest and repayment of principal.\n\nArt. 9. The loan is hereby secured upon the surplus earnings of the Imperial Railways of North China (excluding the section of the Hsinmintun-Mukden line to the east of the Liao River), that is to say, that after deducting from the net earnings of that railway the amounts required to meet the payments of interest and repayments of principal due in terms of the Agreement of the 10th October, 1898 (the 25th day, 8th moon, 24th year Kuang Hsü), to the bondholders of the Imperial Chinese Government Loan of that year, then the payment of interest and repayment of principal of the present loan shall be a first charge upon the said surplus earnings of the Imperial Railways of North China (excluding the section of the Hsinmintun-Mukden line to the east of the Liao River), and no deductions or payments shall be made from the earnings of the said railway other than those required to meet the obligations stated in the Loan Agreement of the 10th October, 1898 (the 25th day, 8th moon, 24th year Kuang Hsü), until an amount sufficient to pay the next half-yearly instalment of interest and principal of the present loan shall have been placed on deposit with the Hong Kong and Shanghae Banking Corporation as security for the due payment of the same.\n\nArt. 10. The Corporation is hereby authorized to issue to subscribers to the loan, bonds for the total amount of the loan for such amounts as may appear advisable to the Corporation. The form of the bonds shall be settled by the Corporation, in consultation with the Yuchuan Pu or its duly authorized representative, or with the Chinese Minister in London. The bonds shall be engraved in Chinese and English; they shall bear the facsimile of the signature of the Yuchuan Pu's duly authorized representative and of his seal of office (in order to dispense with the necessity of his signing them all in person), but the Chinese Minister in London shall, previous to the issue of any bonds, put his seal upon each bond with a facsimile of his signature as a proof that the issue and sale of the bonds are duly authorized by, and binding upon, the Imperial Chinese Government, and the representative of the Corporation in London shall countersign the bonds as agents for the issue of the loan.\n\nPage 600\n\nPage 601", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416497, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 662, "title": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "## 655\n\n4\n\n**political society is limited to 100 persons, and not more than 200 persons shall be allowed to attend a public meeting of a political nature. None but Chinese are permitted to become members of a political society or convene a public meeting of a political nature. Various punishments—fines and imprisonment—are specified for offences against these regulations, which are to come into force three months after the receipt of Imperial sanction.**\n\n## Administrative Reform\n\nThe \"Eastern Times\" of the 20th February has a leading article on the necessity of keeping the question of administrative reform in the forefront of the national policy.\n\nReviewing the history of the past few years, the journal mentions that since 1900, apart from the Russo-Japanese war, the foreign relations of China have been carried on with varying success or failure, but nothing has occurred to give serious cause for reflection. On the other hand, at home there has been one agitation after another; first that of the students, then that of the Court factions, and lastly that of the collision between the Sovereign and the people. All these questions have incidentally marked stages of progress. Thus, the assassination of the Governor of Anhui was instrumental in advancing the assimilation of the Manchu and Chinese races; and the railway agitation led to a platform being found for negotiations between Government and people. But the progress must be maintained. The racial difficulty will disappear when the constitutional question is settled. The solution adopted for the railway difficulty still leaves the Government authority as regards the Loan Agreement, and if the efforts of the people are relaxed it is doubtful whether control over the line can be retained. A settled policy is necessary on the question of constitution, and the establishment of a National Assembly must be kept steadily in view.\n\n## Miscellaneous\n\nThe following extract from the \"Universal Gazette\" (Hankow) is interesting, as being a résumé of last year's events, from the Chinese point of view:-\n\nIn foreign relations China has lost ground everywhere this year. In the 1st moon the Agreements for the Kowloon Railway were exchanged with the British. This railway is one of the five lines to be built by the British. The Wai-wu Pu, discarding the precedent of the Shanghae-Ningpo Railway, where the Company fixed the Agreement with the British, assumed this function itself, which rendered the more impracticable any yielding from the fixed proposals for the Su Hang-Ning line.\n\nThis was a very serious miscalculation. That month Sir Robert Hart, the Inspector-General of Customs, again raised the question of his returning to England. The British again pressed their Shanghae riot claims, which led to endless worry, until, in the 11th moon, the Shanghae Customs Taot'ai, Yuan Shu Hsun, paid 50,000 taels from his own pocket. On other nations thereupon bringing forward claims, the Wai-wu Pu ordered the former Shanghae Customs Taot'ai, Jui Cheng, to go to Shanghae and negotiate with the British Consul-General; but it is not yet known what the outcome will be.\n\nIn the 2nd moon the question of building the Tien-tsin-Chinking alone and cancelling the previous Agreement came up for discussion. As England and Germany absolutely refused, the Court ordered Chang Chih Tung to discuss the matter together with Yuan Shih K'ai. The Chinese found it impossible to carry the proposal to do it themselves, and in the 12th moon an Agreement was negotiated to build the line with a foreign loan. The name of the railway was, besides, altered to the Tien-tsin-P'u k'ou—a change said to be the work of a certain Minister to foreign parts, who, before being appointed envoy, was joint manager of the Anhui lines, and, against the popular wish, was for building the southern section, whereas most Anhui men wanted the northern section. The resulting bitter dispute led the Minister in question to arrange for the change to Tien-tsin-Pu k'ou in order to spoil the northern Anhui railway scheme.\n\nThe gentry and merchants of Kirin, because of the pressure of Japanese influence, decided to build and manage the railway between Kirin and Changchun by themselves, and the Board had sanctioned their request when the Japanese Minister suddenly took a hand in the matter, putting forth outrageous demands. After that, in the end, the Wai-wu Pu redeemed from the Japanese the Hsinminting-Fengtien Light Railway for 1,600,000 dollars, and also negotiated an Agreement with them that they would borrow half the capital that might be needed for future rebuilding of the Hsinminting-Fengtien Railway from the Japanese South Manchurian Railway Company, and that this also applied to the Kirin-Changchun Railway. Besides, the engineers and accountants engaged for both lines were to be Japanese. This Agreement was ratified on the 18th of the 4th moon at Port Arthur. At the same time in Manchuria there were questions with the Japanese over the Kaiping Fishery Company, the import of Japanese salt, the stationing of troops in neutral territory, the railway police, fishing rights at Hsiung Yueh, the Yalu forests, the mines at Chien Tai Shan and Tien Pao Shan and the coal-mines on either side of the Railway. Further, because of the never-ending troubles due to Japanese promiscuously living all over Kirin city, where the Concession area was not yet fixed, his Excellency Ta Kuei, the Tartar-General of Kirin, issued a Proclamation forbidding the practice, whereupon Japan by main force insisted on its being taken down and cancelled. But the military Governor Chao Erh Hsun held firm on all the above questions. The new Viceroy Hsu Shih Chang, however, on arriving at Fengtien compromised most of the questions, to the vast detriment of Chinese sovereign rights, though some cases remain unsettled up to the present time.\n\nThe Wai-wu Pu prohibited grain export from Dalny and Yingkow (Newchwang); the Japanese were even more recalcitrant, and, after waiting till the 8th moon, the Proclamation was finally withdrawn, and the Imperial Maritime Customs established at Dalny, in accordance with the terms of the Chinese-Japanese-Peking Treaty. The Inspector-General negotiated with Japan, after the Kiaochow question, a special Treaty with appended deeds to be tried for one year, which began in the 6th moon.\n\nWhen the opening of the Imperial Maritime custom-houses in Northern Manchuria was originally fixed for the 8th moon, however, the Russo-Japanese Joint Convention, owing to the dispute between Japan and Russia about the navigation rights on the Sungari River, and owing to the cessation of negotiations, when the original Plenipotentiary his Excellency Tang Shao-yi was appointed Governor of Fengtien, and the Russian Minister's frequent procrastinations and hindrances in the hopes of fresh encroachments, has not up to date taken form.\n\nThe Russians in the first moon restored the gold-mines of Mo Ho in Heilungchiang Province, and abolished their Far-Eastern Viceroy, but they refused to give back the forty-six villages on the eastern bank of the Amur River. They further stationed thirty-five soldiers in Kirin, removed the war-time army base at Harbin to Irkutsk, and linked the Chih T'a defence force with Vladivostock.\n\nHence in Manchuria Japanese influence is paramount. Nevertheless in the 8th moon the Russians privately moved San Hsing and the Polichiens (Russian name) boundary marks so as to take in 160 square li of Chinese territory, which were only recovered after negotiations.\n\nIn the fourth moon his Excellency Ch'eng Te Ch'uan, the Governor of Hei Lung Chiang, memorialized the Throne to the effect that Japanese were illicitly selling weapons for the mounted bandits, and requested that the Wai-wu Pu be ordered to negotiate with the Japanese Minister, but there were continual cases of Japanese selling arms to the mounted bandits in the Jehol district, and, as to Tien-tsin, the Japanese engaged in the trade in smuggled arms were arrested by our police, and the matter made a diplomatic question, while the German firm, Arnhold Karberg and Co., were caught by the Imperial Maritime Customs at Tien-tsin in an attempt to smuggle munitions of war and 7,000 rifles. This proves how foreigners exploit our troubles. On the 5th of the same month, the Japanese General Terauchi made a tour of inspection through Corea and came into Manchuria, really, though not openly, on a strategic mission.\n\nShortly afterwards they set up an office of the Corean Superintendency at Chientao with its gendarmes stationed ostensibly for the protection of Coreans, which was the beginning of the invasion of Chientao.\n\nChientao without doubt belongs to China, and is situated in the newly established sub-Prefecture of Yen Chi Ting. This is vouched for by historical records to the knowledge of Chinese and foreigners alike. On the question being in dispute with Japan Ch'en Chiang Shao was appointed Boundary Commissioner, but the Japanese resorted to chicanery and bullying, and we have hitherto been unable to settle the question. The Japanese have been secretly making military preparations in case of trouble.\n\nThat month the British merchant Little bought mining property in Chiang Pei sub-Prefecture in Szechuan, and the Szechuanese, though they objected, were unable to get it back.\n\nMr. Maguire, the British engineer lurking at T'ung Kuan Shan in Anhui, has been more independent, and without giving notice has begun work on his own. He has even now sunk a shaft, and done mining in defiance of the claim that the Agreement is obsolete and of other mining laws. Is this conduct to be borne?\n\n5\n\n[2960 g-1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416498, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 663, "title": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "656\n\n1\n\n6\n\nThere have been two affairs at which we may to some extent take pleasure. American missionaries having occupied a mission site at Hai Tao, in Huchow, and the district officials being unable to recover it, and an appeal to the United States' Minister evoking a still more unfair judgment, which the people of Huchow would not recognize, Chang Ch'un, a military officer, and Liu Teng Ju came forward and took the matter up with the Americans, and their spirit and good cause overbore the Americans and secured the return of the land occupied.\n\nAgain, the Shansi gentry, being unable to make headway against the oppressive action of the Peking Syndicate, sent a delegation in the 8th moon to Peking to negotiate direct with the British. The Wai-wu Pu appointed the former Shansi Judge, Ting Pao Chuan, to back them up, and the victory remained at last, in the 12th moon, with the Shansi men, who redeemed the mining rights of the Peking Syndicate for over 2,000,000 taels. From this one sees the comparative power and capital of the nation and of the Government.\n\nThese two cases are the only ones of the past year which can give satisfaction. The success is due to the efforts of the people. How can it still be said they are incapable?\n\nIn the 6th moon, the prohibition by the American authorities at San Francisco of Chinese children attending schools for white children being extended to Japanese children, serious trouble arose between Japan and America. America proving in the wrong, Japanese children were allowed in the schools on the score of not being of Mongolian race. Later the American Labour Union agitated to drive out the Japanese, and frequently wrecked Japanese shops and stopped their trade. International relations became more and more strained, and the United States' Government dispatched a squadron to the Pacific, and the outcome of the matter is still to be seen. Chinese Government is helpless in face of the expulsion of Chinese children from the schools, and even expressed extreme gratitude to the United States' Government for the return of part of the 1900 indemnity.\n\nIn the 9th moon the agitation about the foreign loan for the Su-Hang-Ning Railway began. The origin was the Tsung-li Yamên's blunder in causelessly yielding to others' claims, and then the Wai-wu Pu procrastinated and shilly-shallied, and not only took no notice of the Decree sanctioning Chekiangese merchants building the railway, but blindly made a Loan Agreement without reference to any one else, and thus caused a violent agitation throughout the south-east.\n\nThe Kiangsu and Chekiang Company insisted on the original scheme, and the Chinese people hurried to help by subscribing capital, and in a very short time 5,000,000 or 6,000,000 taels were forthcoming--an unprecedented occurrence, and one proof of innate patriotism; but the Wai-wu Pu, pressed by the British, was unable to think of any plan for putting things right. Although four representatives from Kiangsu and Chekiang went to Peking to thresh the question there, their idea of putting things right proved to be only hovering about, and so popular excitement ran higher than ever. This matter is not settled in principle up to the present moment, after four or five months' suspense.\n\nThe other cases where foreigners scored were when the Germans were allowed to mine coal at Tsu Ch'uan, in Shantung, and the Russians to mine gold at Ku Lun (Urga), in the Tse-tsin Khanate of Outer Mongolia, at Iliochi. The Mongol Princes of the eastern part of Tushet'u Khanate wired to have the Concession cancelled, but in vain. The French stationing soldiers at Mengtse, the American oil installation at Wuhu, the prevention by the French Minister of the project of the Lienchow gentry to build a railway from Pakhoi to the West River on the score that it would interfere with the French Railway Concession, and the Government humbly giving way to the French, are other cases in point. Again, when the Government wanted to build a railway from Hsinmintung to Fakumen, the Japanese also openly put a stop to the project, saying that if their wishes were not respected they would use force.\n\nSo at present the sphere of lines successfully put under Chinese management is extremely narrow, being solely Kiangsu and Chekiang lines and the Kwantung portion of the Canton-Hankow Railway; and of these the former is objected to by the Wai-wu Pu over the Su-Hang-Ning case, and as to the latter, continual party strife rages.\n\nFrom this it is evident that China is surrounded by foes, whose only anxiety is lest they slacken in their efforts to block her future business. Besides, the passing of mining rights into the hands of foreigners, as the Japanese at Tayeh, the French at Tachiehlu and Kueichou, is hard to enumerate.\n\nKirin-Kalgan Railway.\n\nThe Japanese and Chinese engineers should complete the survey of the line shortly, and will then return to Mukden to prepare an estimate of the cost. The question of raising a loan will then be discussed. It is stated that work will be begun in April, but there are said to be serious differences of opinion between the Chinese and Japanese engineers, each claiming the right of control over the workmen employed on the line.\n\nMotor-car Service in Mongolia.\n\nThe proposal to establish a motor-car service in Mongolia has already been sanctioned. Capital to the amount of 100,000 dollars has now been raised, and two cars of 24 h.p. are to be purchased with a view to establishing a service between Kalgan and Urga, each passenger to be charged 30 taels. Two new cars are to be purchased every six months.\n\nThe Company applied for a monopoly of motor-car services in Mongolia, and offered to carry the Chinese mails free from Kalgan to Urga. The Board of Communications have objected to the monopoly being granted, and have declined the offer to carry the mails on the ground that it might lead to disputes with the Russian Post Office.\n\nThe Peace Conference.\n\nLu Chêng Hsiang, the Chinese Delegate to the Peace Conference, who returned to Peking recently, has presented a secret Memorial to the Throne giving the results of his observations at the Conference and during his stay in Europe. It is reported that he takes a very pessimistic view of the result of the Conference, and considers that the mutual jealousies among the Powers are so strong and the desire for peace so half-hearted that serious results are bound to ensue within the next few years. He considers that China's only chance of being able to hold her own in the coming struggles lies in the reform of the Administration and the establishment of a constitutional Government.\n\nChinese Fleet.\n\nSome time ago the Chinese Minister in London was directed to make contracts for the construction of men-of-war, and it is stated that Wang Ta Hsieh, the Commissioner to England to study the Constitution, has now been directed to assist the Minister in this matter.-[Extract from Chinese press.]\n\nReorganization of the Chinese Navy.\n\nIt is reported in official circles that the reason for delay in proceeding with the reorganization of the navy is not lack of funds, but that the Empress-Dowager hesitates to take any steps in the matter because so few of the Imperial clansmen and other Manchus are qualified for posts in the navy.--[Extract from Chinese press.]\n\nProposed Parliament,\n\nThe Hunanese gentry have requested the Censorate and Board of the Interior to present a Memorial on their behalf praying for the establishment of a Parliament elected by the people.\n\nThe Grand Canal.\n\nA Memorial has been presented by the Board of Communications with reference to the proposed improvement of the Grand Canal so as to render it navigable for steam-launches. The reports of the various provincial authorities concerned are to the effect that the canal could not be made navigable for steam traffic except on certain sections and at great expense. They recommend, however, that certain improvements shall be carried out which will facilitate the navigation of the canal by junks. Extract from Chinese press.]\n\nResidence at Shanghae for Nanking Viceroy.\n\nIt has been proposed that the Viceroy should reside at Shanghae for a certain period every year in order to facilitate the arrangement of international questions.\n\n1", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416507, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 672, "title": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\n665\n\nC.O.\n\n[May 11.]\n\nR\n\n20024\n\nSECTION 1.\n\nFR 6 JUN 08\n\nCHINA RAILWAYS.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n(16091)\n\nNo. 1.\n\nSir C. MacDonald to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received May 11.)\n\n(No. 77.) Sir,\n\nTokyo, April 9, 1908.\n\nI HAVE the honour to acknowledge your despatch No. 48 of the 27th February, transmitting correspondence on the subject of an application by Messrs. Pauling and Co. for a contract to build an extension of the Imperial Railways of Northern China from Hsinmintung to Fakomen, and informing me that, in consequence of objections raised by the Japanese Government on the ground that the construction of such a line would conflict with the agreement arrived at between the Chinese and Japanese Plenipotentiaries in 1905, as to the construction of lines prejudicial to the South Manchurian Railway, His Majesty's Government had informed the firm that they were unable to support them in this matter.\n\nYou added that Messrs. Pauling continued to adduce reasons for holding that the proposed extension would benefit, and not injure, the South Manchurian Railway system, and expressed a wish that I should place this view unofficially before the Japanese Government.\n\nPrevious to the arrival of your despatch I had already had a letter from Lord Ffrench, Messrs. Pauling's representative at Peking (copy of which I have the honour to inclose), to the effect that his firm had informed him by cable that His Majesty's Government had forwarded me a Memorandum containing some of the reasons put forward by the firm why the Japanese should withdraw their objection to the building of the railway in Manchuria, and that this Memorandum was to be shown by me unofficially to the Japanese Government.\n\nLord Ffrench forwarded me at the same time a Memorandum bearing on the subject, drawn up by himself. As this document does not contain any additional information to that conveyed in the correspondence which you have forwarded to me, I do not send a copy.\n\nYou will observe that Lord Ffrench in his letter makes references to the policy of the open door, and is also of opinion that it is \"peculiarly unwise for the Japanese to exhibit unnecessarily such hostility to the interests of British firms.\" In my reply to this letter, copy of which I inclose herewith, I have not alluded to these observations; but I venture to think that, although they may be natural, coming from a member of a firm which has been disappointed in a possibly lucrative contract, they are hardly fair on the Japanese Government, who, I am sure, have no desire to show unnecessary hostility to any firm, least of all a British firm. Neither do I think that such observations are calculated to serve any useful purpose.\n\nYou will see that in my answer to Lord Ffrench I have informed him of the result of two unofficial conversations I have had with Count Hayashi, in which his Excellency, after referring to Article 3 of the Protocol, pointed out that this particular Article (one of sixteen) had been specially drafted in view of the possible extension of the railways of Northern China from Hsinmintung northwards.\n\nWhen the Chinese authorities made the contract with Messrs. Pauling they knew, or should have known, of this Article. Count Hayashi added that were the Japanese Government to ignore some of the other Articles of the Protocol in the manner in which this one had been ignored by China, it might be very inconvenient for the Chinese. His Excellency regretted very much that the interests of English contractors and financiers should have suffered from the fact that the terms of a solemn compact between Japan and China had been put on one side, but that was not the fault of the Japanese Government.\n\nIn my letter to Lord Ffrench I reminded him that His Majesty's Government were of opinion, and had so informed his principals, that the question whether the proposed line would or would not injuriously affect the South Manchurian Railway was one for the decision of the Japanese Government, and that such a position would certainly be assumed by His Majesty's Government if the question arose of the construction of a line competing with a British Railway Concession in China.\n\nI concluded by saying that I would again see Count Hayashi and put before his Excellency a Memorandum containing Messrs. Pauling's arguments to the effect that the extension would benefit and not injure the South Manchurian Railway, and request his favourable consideration of these arguments.\n\nYesterday I saw Count Hayashi and placed before him the Memorandum above mentioned, copy of which I have the honour\n\n[2972 --1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416508, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 673, "title": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "666\n\n2\n\nto inclose, and discussed with his Excellency the various points raised by Messrs. Pauling, Count Hayashi repeated what he had said on previous occasions; with regard to Messrs. Pauling's contention that the fact of the two lines being parallel, and therefore competitive, was discountenanced by the distance which separates them--35 miles at the nearest point--and by the presence of the Liao River-a deep and unfordable stream-his Excellency remarked that these arguments might hold in a populous country, but in the districts concerned there was not sufficient trade to maintain two lines of railway, certainly not at the present time. Japanese experts had gone carefully into the question and had come to the conclusion that a railway from Hsinmintung running northwards and parallel to the South Manchurian Railway would very seriously menace the commercial prospects of the latter railway, and for this reason the Japanese Plenipotentiaries had been instructed to insert Article 3 in the Protocol. His Excellency reminded me that in the various Railway Concessions which had been granted by China to British concessionnaires, most of which had been negotiated when I was British Representative at Peking, a similar Article had been inserted prohibiting the building of parallel lines of a competitive nature. Count Hayashi further said that he begged that I would treat this statement as confidential; that the Japanese Government were convinced that should a line be built from Hsinmintung to Fakumen and beyond, the Chinese Government and the Chinese authorities would so arrange that practically the entire trade of the district, outside the narrow strip under the administration of the South Manchurian Railway, would go to the Chinese line; about this there could be no possible doubt, and it was only natural it should be so, There might be instances where self-interest would exceed patriotism, but Chinese officials would know how to deal with such cases; indeed, the Japanese Government were in possession of certain information that the Chinese promoters of this line had stated that its main object was to damage the South Manchurian Railway. With regard to the first part of this statement, I think that it is more than probable that the Hsinmintung-Fakumen Railway, a Chinese line running through Chinese territory, would certainly tap practically all the trade on both sides of the Liao up to the borders of the South Manchurian Railway administration, and would thus undoubtedly damage very seriously the commercial prospects of the undertaking, an undertaking which, as Count Hayashi pointed out, was practically the only asset possessed by Japan as the result of a victorious war, conclusion, Count Hayashi repeated that it was a source of sincere regret to the Japanese Government that British interests had been injured in this matter, but had inquiries been made in the proper quarter before the contract and the loan had been entered into, full information would have been given, which would have saved much disappointment.\n\nIn\n\nJudging from the comments in the press, the entire country is unanimous in supporting the position taken up by the Government in this question. In view of the arguments put forward by Count Hayashi, and more particularly with regard to an observation he made in the course of our conversation, to the effect that representations, even though made in the unofficial and friendly manner in which I had been authorized to make them, would lend considerable moral support to the Chinese in their contentions, I venture to think that any further representations on my part would be unadvisable.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) CLAUDE M. MACDONALD,\n\nInclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nLord Ffrench to Sir C. MacDonald.\n\nYour Excellency,\n\nShanghae, March 10, 1908. MESSRS. PAULING AND CO., whom I have the honour to represent, have informed me by cable that His Majesty's Government has forwarded to you a Memorandum containing some of the reasons put forward by our firm why the Japanese should withdraw their objections to the building of the railway in Manchuria known as the Hsinmintung-Fakumen Railway. I understand that this Memorandum was to be shown by you unofficially to the Japanese.\n\nMy firm has cabled to me to communicate with you, because I was the person who negotiated the contract with regard to the railway, entered into between ourselves and the Chinese, and so that you might have at your disposal such a Memorandum of our reasons as my local knowledge should enable me to give. I therefore have the honour to inclose a Memorandum bearing on the subject, and I trust your Excellency's good\n\n3\n\noffices will induce the Japanese to withdraw their objection, and thus avoid the friction which must necessarily ensue if the policy of the open door in Manchuria is not adhered to.\n\nApart from the many reasons set forth in the Memorandum attached, it seems peculiarly unwise for the Japanese to exhibit unnecessarily such hostility to the interests of British firms.\n\nThe financial arrangements for the railway in question were undertaken by the British and Chinese Corporation, a firm whose supporters include groups that have no small say in the large financial transactions of the East. The firm which I have the honour to represent is of world-wide reputation and standing. It seems to me, therefore, that, considering the very shadowy nature of the contention that the railway in question will compete with the South Manchurian Railway, the Japanese would do well to reconsider their objection and not give any grounds for an agitation in the press, political and financial, such as might take place if grounds are given for the belief that the open-door policy in Manchuria is a sham, and that Japan means to occupy the same position in that country as Russia did before the war.\n\nOn the other hand, the withdrawal of the objection at the friendly instance of her ally should do much to establish a belief in Japan's good faith, while in no way preventing her legitimate aspirations.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed)\n\nDear Lord Ffrench,\n\nInclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\nSir C. MacDonald to Lord Ffrench.\n\nTokió, April 4, 1908. I HAVE delayed replying to your communication of the 10th March on the subject of the proposed Hsinmintung-Fakumen Railway, pending the receipt of the Memorandum which, in the above communication, you said His Majesty's Government were forwarding to me, to be shown unofficially to the Japanese Government.\n\nBy the Foreign Office bag which arrived here on the 31st ultimo I received a despatch from Sir Edward Grey, forwarding copies of all recent correspondence which has passed in connection with the proposed line, including the Memorandum you mention, and also one from the British and China Association, who were prepared to advance the money for the extension. I am requested to lay the arguments put forward by Messrs. Pauling unofficially before the Japanese Government, in the hope of inducing them to withdraw their opposition to the proposed extension.\n\nOn the 2nd instant, at the Foreign Minister's reception, I spoke to his Excellency unofficially, and again when I met him at dinner last night, on this question, putting forward most of the arguments mentioned in Messrs. Pauling's Memorandum and in the one you have yourself drawn up, which forms an inclosure in your letter under reply.\n\nI dwelt particularly on the points you raise in section 7 of your letter under the headings (a), (b), (c), &c., to (g) inclusive, in which you endeavour to show that the extension from Hsinmintung to Fakumen, so far from being a competitor of the South Manchurian Railway, must to a certain extent be a feeder of the same. In the course of our discussion Count Hayashi reminded me that the Chinese Government had made an Agreement with Japan, which was recorded in a Protocol signed by the Chinese and Japanese Plenipotentiaries, by which both these Powers were bound; that in Article 3 of this Protocol the Chinese Government engaged themselves in the interest of the South Manchurian Railway, prior to the recovery by them of the said railway, not to construct any main line in the neighbourhood of and parallel to that railway, or any branch line which might be prejudicial to the interest of the above-mentioned railway. He further stated that when the Protocol was signed the Japanese Government had particularly in view this very extension of the Imperial Railways of North China northward from Hsinmintung, which extension they thought would be prejudicial to the interests of the South Manchurian Railway. The Japanese Government, he added, are still strongly of opinion that the extension of this railway to Fakumen and beyond would be prejudicial to the interests of the South Manchurian Railway.\n\nExtract is\n\nIn this connection I would draw your attention to the following extract of a letter from Sir Edward Grey to Messrs. Pauling, dated the 12th February, 1908. as follows", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416509, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 674, "title": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "In the opinion of His Majesty's Government, the question whether the proposed line would or would not injuriously affect the South Manchurian Railway is one for the decision of the Japanese Government. Such a position would certainly be assumed by His Majesty's Government if the question arose of the construction of a line competing with a British Railway Concession in China.\n\nCount Hayashi added that the Japanese Government regretted exceedingly that the interests of English contractors and financiers should have suffered by the fact that Japan upheld the terms of a solemn Agreement made between herself and China. The latter Power, when she made the loan with the British and Chinese Corporation and entered into the contract with Messrs. Pauling, must—or, at any rate, should—have known that she was breaking one Article of a solemn Agreement, which Agreement, besides this Article, contained others which it would be greatly to the disadvantage of China if Japan ignored in the same manner, and in which China would seem to have ignored Article 3.\n\nFrom the above you will see that the chances of the Japanese Government departing from the position which they think they have rightly taken up are very remote.\n\nI am to see Count Hayashi again in a few days, and will lay before him unofficially a Memorandum containing the points raised in the various documents forwarded to me by His Majesty's Government, and I will again press the matter unofficially on his Excellency's favourable consideration; but, judging from the arguments he used on the occasions I have mentioned, I do not, I regret to say, anticipate any favourable results from my further representations.\n\nBelieve me, &c. (Signed)\n\nInclosure 3 in No. 1.\n\nMemorandum.\n\nBY Article 3 of the Secret Agreement attached to the Chino-Japanese Treaty of December 1905—\n\n\"The Chinese Government engage, for the purpose of protecting the interests of the South Manchurian Railway, not to construct, prior to the recovery by them of the said railway, any main line in the neighbourhood of and parallel to that railway, or any branch line which would be prejudicial to the interest of the above-mentioned railway.\"\n\nIn virtue of this Article the Japanese Government have recorded their objection to the proposed construction by the Chinese Government of a line to run from Hsinmintung to Fakumen, a distance of about 50 miles, on the ground, presumably, that it would at once be parallel and prejudicial to the South Manchurian Railway.\n\nMessrs. Pauling and Co., a British firm, have entered into a contract with the Chinese Government to construct the above-mentioned line. While admitting that, prima facie, the Japanese contention might appear to be justified, they insist that in reality it is not so. They trust, therefore, that the Japanese Government will impartially weigh the arguments adduced below, in the hope that they may reconsider their previous decision.\n\nMessrs. Pauling and Co. allege that the fact of the two lines being parallel is discountenanced by the distance which separates them, namely, 35 miles at the nearest point, and by the presence of the Liao River, a deep and unfordable stream, which forms a natural physical barrier dividing the districts traversed.\n\nThe town of Fakumen has a population of 40,000 inhabitants. The whole district is closely cultivated, and its trade goes by road exclusively to Hsinmintung, the nearest railway terminus. The substitution of railway transport for road transport need not therefore be regarded in the light of competition.\n\nThe construction of this 50 miles extension must necessarily increase the existing trade and traffic, which at present passes by road to Hsinmintung. From there an augmented, and not a diminished, volume of freight and traffic would be forwarded to Mukden, to the benefit of the South Manchurian Railway.\n\nSo far, therefore, from being prejudicial and competitive, the proposed line may rather be expected to act as a feeder to the Japanese railway, and consequently prove beneficial.\n\nPage 0\n\nThis Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government,\n\nCHINA RAILWAYS.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[16370]\n\nNo. 1.\n\n667\n\nC.0.\n\n20024\n\n[May 12.]\n\nSECTION 1. 6 JUN 08\n\nLi Ching-fong to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received May 12.)\n\nYour Excellency,\n\nChinese Legation, May 11, 1908. WITH reference to the interview I had with your Excellency on the 8th instant, at which I brought up the question between China and Japan of the construction of the Hsin-Min-Tun-Fakumen Railway, I have the honour to transmit herewith a copy of the translation of a telegram which I have received from the Wai-wu Pu, and which I have been instructed to communicate to your Excellency for information.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed)\n\n(Translation.) (Telegraphic.)\n\nInclosure in No. 1.\n\nThe Wai-wu Pu to Li Ching-fong.\n\nMay 7, 1908.\n\nIN last year the Viceroy and the Governor of the Fengtien Province proposed to extend the section of the Imperial North Railway outside the Great Wall from Hsin-Min-Tun to Fakumen, and had already instructed Messrs. Pauling and Co., a British firm, to undertake the survey and construction of the proposed line. To this the Japanese Minister protested on the grounds that the line would be in the neighbourhood of and parallel to the South Manchurian Railway, that its construction would therefore be detrimental to the prosperity of the latter, and that it was in contravention of what was recorded in the Minutes of the China-Japan Treaty negotiations.\n\nAlthough this Department has repeatedly refused to entertain the views of the Japanese Minister on the question, yet he still maintains his opposition.\n\nIt has also been heard that the Japanese Government have forwarded the Minutes of the said negotiations to His Britannic Majesty's Government for their information.\n\nNow it is recorded in the said Minutes that, with the view of conserving the interests of the Manchurian Railway, the Chinese Government agree not to construct any railway in the neighbourhood of and parallel to the said railway until they have recovered its possession.\n\nWhen the Plenipotentiaries of the two Powers came to negotiate for a Treaty on the subject China raised the question that the interpretation of the word \"parallel\" was too vague and too unlimited, and it was necessary that there should be clearly stated the limit of miles within which other lines could not be built. To this Japan replied that if that were done other Powers would say that Japan had placed restrictions on the rights of China in the construction of her railways. Later on, China again suggested that, in accordance with the usual practice which obtains in Europe and America regarding railway inter-communication, it was necessary that the distance within which two lines parallel to each other should not be built should be clearly defined, but Japan said that the practice in this regard varied in different countries, and that it was not necessary. Japan further declared that she would not place any obstacles in the way of any steps which China might take to develop Manchuria.\n\nNow the extension of the line from Hsin-Min-Tun to Fakumen is the principal step towards the development of the country, and the line is not in the neighbourhood of and parallel to the South Manchurian Railway; it cannot, therefore, be detrimental to it in any way, but, on the contrary, it would increase facilities of communication and develop trade. The proposed line is therefore not in contravention of what was recorded in the said Minutes.\n\nBesides making a reply to the Japanese Government in this sense, the Department telegraphs this to you. Please communicate it to the British Foreign Office.\n\n[2972 m-1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416510, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 675, "title": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.)\n\nCHINA RAILWAYS.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[16811]\n\n(No. 146.) Sir,\n\nNo. 1.\n\n663\n\nC.0\n\n[May 16.30024\n\nSECTION\n\nKAVE C JUN 09\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received May 16.)\n\nPeking, March 30, 1908.\n\nI HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 126 of the 6th March, forwarding correspondence with Messrs. Pauling on the subject of the proposed Hsinmintun-Fakumen Railway, and, in connection therewith, to transmit to you copy of a despatch which I have received from His Majesty's Acting Consul, Newchwang, inclosing a protest from the General Chamber of Commerce of that port against the abandonment of that extension.\n\nI have, &c. (For His Majesty's Minister),\n\n(Signed)\n\nSTEPHEN LEECH.\n\nInclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nActing Consul Tebbitt to Sir J. Jordan.\n\n(No. 10.) Sir,\n\nMarch 21, 1908.\n\nI HAVE the honour to inclose herewith copy of a protest from the Newchwang General Chamber of Commerce against the attitude of Japan in the question of the proposed Hsinmintun-Fakumen Railway extension, addressed to me and to the doyen of the Consular Body. As will be seen from Inclosure No. 3, the doyen did not send the protest to Peking, owing to the protest of the Japanese Consul.\n\nThe Committee of the Chamber, consisting of British, German, and American members, is desirous of seeing China adopt every means in its power to stimulate the development of this province and this port, by creating a healthy competition between its own railway system and the South Manchuria Railway.\n\nSir,\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) R. T. TEBBITT.\n\nInclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\nNewchwang General Chamber of Commerce to Acting Consul Tebbitt.\n\nNewchwang, March 18, 1908.\n\nI INCLOSE herewith a copy of protest addressed to official quarters by this Chamber relative to Japan's attitude towards the proposed Hsinmintun-Fakumen Railway, and am directed to say that this Chamber will appreciate any assistance you can render it towards furthering its views on the subject, which the Chamber regards as of the most vital and far-reaching importance to the general trade interests of this port and province.\n\nI am, &c.\n\n(Signed) P. F. HEISCH, Secretary.\n\nInclosure 3 in No. 1.\n\nMr. Heenan to Acting Consul Tebbitt.\n\nSir,\n\nAmerican Consulate-General, Newchwang, March 21, 1908.\n\nI HAVE to state that I have not sent the communication received from the Newchwang Chamber of Commerce relating to the proposed construction of the Hsinmintun-Fakumen Railway to Peking, owing to the protest of the Japanese Consul.\n\n[2972 q-1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416511, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 676, "title": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "2\n\nHsinmintun-Takumen Railway to the dean of the Diplomatic Body at Peking, owing to the objection made by the Japanese Vice-Consul.\n\nSir,\n\nam, &c.\n\n(Signed) TH. E. HEENAN,\n\nConsul-General and dean of the Consular Corps.\n\nInclosure 4 in No. 1.\n\nNewchwang General Chamber of Commerce to Mr. Heenan.\n\nNewchwang, March 16, 1908.\n\nI HAVE the honour to bring to your notice, for submission to the honourable Consular Body, the following Resolution unanimously adopted by a meeting of this Chamber held on the 13th instant-\n\nResolution:\n\n\"The Newchwang General Chamber of Commerce, being convinced that the extension of the Imperial Railways of North China from Hsinmintun to Fakumen and beyond is vitally important to the development and prosperity of Manchurian trade, strongly protests against the steps now being taken by the Government of Japan to enforce the abandonment of this extension, Japan having specifically undertaken in the Treaty of Portsmouth not to obstruct any general measures common to all countries which China may take for the development of commerce and industry in Manchuria.'\"\n\nIn submitting this Resolution, I beg to state the grounds upon which the views expressed therein have been arrived at, viz:-\n\n1. The line of the proposed Hsinmintun-Fakumen Railway, at its nearest point of convergence, namely at Fakumen itself, a flourishing township of some 40,000 inhabitants, is 35 miles distant from the existing system of the South Manchurian Railway, and separated therefrom by the River Liao, an important waterway, itself constituting a natural traffic boundary between the existing, and proposed, railway systems.\n\n2. The trade of Fakumen, and of its hinterland, has always found its natural outlet to, and through, the larger town of Hsinmintun, a trade centre of growing importance, by way of the Koupangtzu-Hsinmintun line of the Imperial Railways of North China, to the seaboard at Newchwang, Chinwangtao, &c. It has never gone eastward towards the townships and districts operated by the South Manchurian Railway, and therefore there are no grounds for Japan's contention that the proposed line, which will cater only for the trade of these regions, must be competitive with, and detrimental to, the interests of the Japanese line.\n\n3. The proposed line has for its primary and sole objective the development of that vast region of fertile country, holding boundless commercial potentialities, stretching west and north-west of the Liao River, the reclamation and colonization of which has now for several years, and already with marked success, been fostered in every way by the paternal Government, and in this most beneficial scheme of development the proposed railway is an absolutely essential and vital factor, as these regions being poor in natural facilities such as navigable waterways, by no other means, excepting only the construction of branch lines westward from the South Manchuria Railway system, can this development be assisted and promoted. Such branch lines, if constructed, could not be as efficient and economical agents of this development as the direct line proposed, and would necessarily do incalculable injury to the prospects and trade of the port of Newchwang, which is the natural outlet and distributing base for the country in question, by diverting from it to Dalny its legitimate trade.\n\n4. Assuming that Japan, as is alleged, obtained from China in a subsidiary Treaty the undertaking, \"not to construct, prior to the recovery by them (China) of the said (South Manchuria) Railway any line in the neighbourhood of, and parallel to, that railway, or any branch line which might be detrimental to the interests of the South Manchuria Railway, &c.\"\n\nThe Committee of this Chamber submits-\n\n(a.) That the country to be operated by the proposed line cannot be considered to be \"in the neighbourhood\" of the South Manchuria Railway;\n\n3\n\n(b.) That, as already demonstrated, it neither will nor can be competitive with, or in any way detrimental to, the interests of the South Manchuria Railway;\n\n(c.) That in no country in the world, of similar population and topography, could, or would, the vested trade interests or sphere of an existing railway system be held to include so extensive an area as to preclude the construction of other lines, even though competitive (if in the commercial sense that were possible), outside of a 35-mile limit;\n\n(d.) That Japan, having in Article IV of the Portsmouth Treaty pledged herself- \"Not to obstruct any general measures, common to all countries, which China may take for the development of commerce and industry in Manchuria, &c.\" Her action, in exacting and receiving from China an undertaking such as is alleged, which is diametrically opposed in principle and practice to the pledge she had herself given to the world Powers, must be considered to have been ultra vires, and, therefore, the said undertaking by China to be null and void and of no effect.\n\n5. If, however, we assume further the validity of the said undertaking by China, it still remains to be urged that such undertaking manifestly could not have application or reference to this territory westerly from the River Liao, which, at the time of the recent Russo-Japanese War, was by China specifically proclaimed, and by the late belligerent Powers officially recognized to be neutral territory outside the area of hostilities, and therefore outside also of the political sphere of Treaty, negotiation, or engagement, wherein China's sovereign rights remained unquestioned and unimpaired. Obviously her intention in such undertaking could only have reference to action within the area which furnished the cause of the late war, and became the territory which formed the subject of Treaty, and therefore such undertaking cannot constitute any bar or obstacle to the construction of the proposed Hsinmintun-Fakumen Railway.\n\nOn all these grounds, therefore, in the opinion of the Committee of this Chamber, the attitude of Japan in relation to the proposed railway is as indefensible as it is directly opposed to the principle of \"equal opportunity for all\" and even a menace to the integrity of China, and, therefore, in the commercial interests of this port in particular, and of Manchuria generally, I have the honour to petition your honourable body to transmit to the dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Peking a copy of this despatch to the end that such steps may be [taken as are] deemed best for the preservation and promotion of those interests.\n\nIn conclusion, I have the honour to inform you that the Committee of this Chamber regard the question at issue of such vital and far-reaching public importance that it intends by every means available to give publicity to the views herein expressed, and to that end proposes communicating the substance of these representations to the various Chambers of Commerce and kindred Associations and to the leading press of China, Europe, and America.\n\n(Signed) WM. FORD, Chairman.\n\n663\n\n1", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416754, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 81, "title": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "2\n\neagerness in any part of the province to subscribe capital for the enterprise, and the Acting British Consul-General reports that there exists a great deal of dissatisfaction on account of the \"rent share\" system (see Mr. Fox' Report inclosed in Sir J. Jordan's despatch No. 245 of last year). Indeed, it is estimated that the present taxation on cultivated land, including this rent share subscription, is not far short of 10 per cent. per annum of the value of the crops. The Acting Viceroy has been compelled to prohibit all meetings where the general dissatisfaction is likely to find expression in \"reckless oratory,\" and great efforts are being made, by lectures and other means, to stimulate public interest in the railway scheme. Past experience has not taught the officials that it will be well nigh impossible to raise funds for railway construction without having recourse to foreign assistance, and the Acting Viceroy, under instructions from the Board of Posts and Communications, has officially stated that there is no intention of employing foreign capital in the case of this railway.\n\nChinan-fu.\n\nHis Majesty's Consul reports the arrival at Chinan-fu of Yuan Shu-hsün, who has taken over charge of the province, as Acting Governor, from Wu Ting-pin. The latter is returning to his home, not having taken up his new post of Treasurer of Chihli on the ground of ill-health.\n\nYuan Shu-hsün will be remembered in connection with the Shanghai riots of 1905, when his attitude as Tantai was not such as to lead one to attribute to him any very friendly feelings towards foreigners.\n\nKiukiang.\n\nA Japanese post office was opened early in March in the British Concession, and bids fair to become a serious rival to the Chinese Imperial Postal Service. The complaints that are made against the latter are numerous and serious, involving cases not only of delay and loss of money orders and parcels, but also of breach of confidence and absence of secrecy. From the reports of His Majesty's Consul it would not seem that the good reputation which the Chinese Post Office enjoys elsewhere is in any degree maintained in the Kiukiang district.\n\nKanchou Riot.--Various officials have been dealt with by Imperial Decree as a result of the outbreak in the Kanchou district last autumn (see Monthly Summary inclosed in Sir J. Jordan's despatch No. 104 of the 3rd March, 1908). One Magistrate has been dismissed from the public service for ever, while four other officials have been handed over to the Board concerned to receive the severest penalties.\n\nThe supersession in Nan Chang of Chuang Taotai by Taotai Wang Kan-ching means the removal of an official whose attitude to foreigners has always been one of obstruction and hostility.\n\nForeign Missions.\n\nA report received from His Majesty's Consul at Chinan-fu shows that the Western \"conscientious objector\" is finding his imitators in the Far East.\n\nA tax is being levied by the local authorities in several districts of Shantung for the purpose of repairing the local Confucian temples. In some instances native Christians have sought the support of missionaries in claiming exemption from payment of this tax. They maintain that the imposition of such taxes upon Christians is contrary to Treaty rights, and, further, that their consciences will not permit them to contribute to the up-keep of institutions where ceremonies repugnant to their religious convictions are performed. Among the native converts, if not among the missionaries, a righteous indignation is almost universally expressed at the thought of the proceeds of the tax being devoted to the maintenance of so idolatrous a form of worship, though the more moderate party is inclined to draw nice distinctions between the national Confucian religion and the more superstitious Buddhist and Taoist creeds. The latter question is one that affords great scope for ingenious theological arguments, hinging on the moot point as to whether Confucianism is an idolatrous religion or merely a national code of morals; indeed, the learned teachers of Christianity in China have found in this question a fertile source of controversy for the last three hundred years.\n\nThe point of conscience appears to be too delicate for any but theologians to determine, but, as regards the Treaty rights claimed by the converts, the only justification for such a claim is to be found in Article 14 of the American Treaty of 1903, which provides that converts are to be exempt from the payment of taxes \"levied for the support of religious customs and practices contrary to their faith.\" On the other hand, Confucianism is the State religion of China, and, as the new Governor of Shantung very sensibly pointed out in a conversation with His Majesty's Consul, the Confucian temples are national Chinese institutions, the support of which is a legitimate charge on the public revenue.\n\nAt Chengtu, the West China Missionary Conference passed a Resolution appointing a Committee to consider what measures could be taken to prevent the importation of cigarettes. This Resolution is directed against the British-American Tobacco Company, and the American Consul is very indignant with the American missionaries for trying to harm a Company whose capital is largely American.\n\nThis same Conference was addressed at its opening meeting by a deputy from the Acting Viceroy, who, after congratulating the Protestant missions on their reputation for abstaining from political intrigues, proceeded to give the members some sound advice as regards the choice of candidates for conversion, hinting that Chinese did not always embrace Christianity from purely religious motives. It is satisfactory to note that the members of the Conference seem to have taken his words in good part.\n\nBoycott of Japanese Goods.\n\nFrom the information contained in the Quarterly Intelligence Report, sent to this Legation by His Majesty's Consulate-General at Canton, it would seem doubtful whether the boycott will be able to affect Japanese trade to a really serious extent in that city. The importation of coal, for instance, is largely in the hands of the Japanese, and it would be practically impossible to obtain coal from any other source. The Society which plays the leading part in the movement, the so-called \"Self-Government\" Society, is one not much respected by the better class of Cantonese merchants, its head being a bankrupt banker. The efforts of this Society, aided by the prejudice which does exist against Japanese goods, will, however, probably not be without a certain effect, temporary though it may be, on the business done by the local Japanese traders.\n\nThe opinions expressed by the native journals in general as to the desirability of the boycott vary widely. On the one hand a large section of the press clamour loudly in favour of the movement, hailing it as an expression of national indignation at the disgrace inflicted on China by the Government's weakness over the \"Tatsu Maru\" incident. On the other hand, we find Chinese papers deprecating a boycott; their tone is no less jingoistic than that adopted by the pro-boycott press, but they base their attitude on the advantages reaped by British, German, and American trade from the check to Japanese commercial enterprise. They point out that to boycott the goods of any one country is merely to push the trade of the other foreign nations who are exploiting China for their own selfish ends. This view is expressed, not without a certain pathos, by the \"Universal Gazette\" (Hankow): \"It follows that all our trouble only brings immediate success to others. Therefore the better policy is to encourage the manufacture and use of native imitations.\"\n\nThe Native Press on Railways.\n\nThere are few subjects on which the Chinese press waxes so eloquent as on that of the connection between Chinese railways and foreigners. With tireless zeal the papers insist on the dangers attaching to the influx of foreign capital, and point to the profit which would attend the substitution of Chinese for foreign ownership of the railways. Unfortunately their readers seem slow to learn their lesson, as most attempts to raise loans for railway enterprises have shown.\n\nA series of articles which have appeared in the \"Universal Gazette,\" on the much-debated Chekiang Railway question, are typical of the tone adopted by the press. Taking the Loan Agreement as his theme, the writer draws attention to the dark British schemes which lurk hidden under such Agreements. Great Britain, whom the writer terms the \"leading devil in the work of destroying nations by trade,\" is bent on securing complete control of the Yang-tsze Valley, and \"if England can get the Shanghai-Nanking and Soochow-Hangchow-Ningpo Railways, she will hold China's natural Treasury, Kiangsu-Chekiang, and later advance her sphere over Anhui and Kiangsi, ultimately obtaining the Canton-Hankow Railway section in Hunan.\" Chinese should therefore subscribe towards the redemption of foreign-owned railways, gaining thereby not only great financial profit, but also the glory which attaches to true patriots.\n\nThe same paper has an article about the Hsinmintun-Fakumen Railway, and takes...\n\n3\n\n...\n\n78", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416771, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 98, "title": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.\n\n4\n\nnative goods to the newly-opened ports in Manchuria” should serve as a satisfactory solution of this question.\n\nBy these Regulations not only duty-paid foreign imports, but also native goods on which coast-trade half-duty has been paid, may, at the option of the merchant, be provided with an exemption certificate when they are being transported to the new Manchurian ports from the Treaty ports of Tien-tsin, Newchwang, &c.\n\nThis arrangement fulfils Treaty obligations, and its application to the Shanghae-Nanking Railway as it stands appears desirable, in order that uniformity of practice may be preserved.\n\n0\n\nI avail, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n\nJ. N. JORDAN.\n\nCHINA RAILWAYS.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[22280]\n\nNo. 1.\n\n[June 29.]\n\nSECTION 5.\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received June 29.)\n\n(No. 214. Confidential.) Sir,\n\nPeking, May 12, 1908. I HAVE the honour to transmit to you, in translation, copy of a note which was addressed by the Wai-wu Pu to the Japanese Minister on the 6th instant, in reply to Baron Hayashi's protest of the 22nd January last, on the subject of the Hsinmintun-Fakumen Railway.\n\nThis paper was furnished to me privately by his Excellency Tong Shao-yi, who informed me that the substance of it had been telegraphed to the Chinese Minister in London for communication to you.\n\nAs reported in my telegram No. 86 of the 25th April, the question has been under consideration between the Japanese Minister and Tong Ta-jên, but no basis of settlement has so far been reached, and the difference of view which separates the two sides is still very considerable.\n\nThe Japanese Government have on more than one occasion suggested that the Chinese should be satisfied with permission to construct branch lines from Fakumen or other points eastwards to the South Manchurian Railway, but the Japanese Minister has fully realized that such an offer would not meet the wishes of China, and has expressed his personal view that a solution might be found if Fakumen were made the terminus of the extension from Hsinmintun and this were connected with the South Manchurian Railway by a branch line as above indicated. Even this, however, would not prove acceptable to China, who insists upon the right to extend the line, if necessary, to Tsitsihar, but is perfectly ready to make as many connections with the South Manchurian Railway as the interests of trade may demand.\n\nThe Japanese Minister leaves for Japan on the 15th instant, and he told me to-day that he intends to confer with his Government on the subject.\n\nThe Chinese are now inclining to the view that a prolongation from Fakumen to Hailar might suit them better than one to Tsitsihar, and as this would increase the distance from the South Manchurian Railway, it might tend to facilitate the solution of the question.\n\nSome days ago my French colleague, acting upon a telegram from the French Ambassador at Tôkiô, naïvely suggested to me that we should seek compensation for the abandonment of the Fakumen project in securing from China railway advantages between Hankow and Szechuan, to be shared, presumably, with the French group interested in that line.\n\nI am sending a copy of this despatch to His Majesty's Ambassador at Tôkiô,\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) J. N. JORDAN.\n\nInclosure in No. 1.\n\n(Translation.) Your Excellency,\n\nWai-wu Pu to Baron Hayashi.\n\nPeking, May 6, 1908. WE have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's despatch of the 22nd January, in which you declared again that, in view of the stipulation in the records of the Sino-Japanese Conference, the Japanese Government were absolutely unable to agree to the extension of the Imperial Railway of North China to Fakumen; that a definite engagement had been entered into at the Conference, for the protection of the interests of the South Manchurian Railway, not to construct a parallel trunk line in the neighbourhood or a branch line which would damage those interests; and that the Chinese authorities were responsible for the due observance of this engagement, and must see that it is not disregarded.\n\n[1814 ƒ-5]\n\n95", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416772, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 99, "title": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "The Wai-wu Pu have the honour to observe that the objects of the Chinese Government in extending the North China Railway from Hsinmintun to Fakumen are to augment the facilities for communication in that region and to increase the revenues of the North China Railway. The South Manchurian Railway is not affected in the slightest; the extension is not a parallel trunk line, nor a branch line which would damage the interests of the South Manchurian Railway, and its distance from that railway is not less than is customary and general in the case of railways in Europe and America. This Board received various communications to the above effect from the high authorities of Manchuria and the Board of Communications in the course of October and November last year.\n\nYour Excellency, in quoting the records of the Conference and stating that China is disregarding a Treaty engagement and taking action which is injurious to the interests of the South Manchurian Railway, is not aware that at the time this engagement was concluded by the Japanese and Chinese Plenipotentiaries the latter considered that the meaning of the word \"parallel\" was too wide, and that the distance in miles should be definitely stated within which a parallel line could not be built. To this the Japanese Plenipotentiary objected that if the number of miles was fixed it would look to other countries as if the intention was to restrict Chinese railway enterprise. Then he was requested to agree that the distance should be stated to be such as was general in Europe and America, and he again objected that this was unnecessary, as there was no uniform general rule. Moreover, the Japanese Plenipotentiary declared that Japan would in no case oppose any future steps taken by China for the extension of communications in Manchuria. These statements were made in all sincerity and under circumstances when the relations between the two countries were of the friendliest, and must, of course, be observed on both sides.\n\nThere is no more important means for extending communications in a country than the construction of railways. The Fakumen line is far from the South Manchurian Railway, and cannot really be considered a parallel line in the neighbourhood of that railway. As for damaging the interests of the South Manchurian Trunk Railway, not only is this not so, but those interests will profit, for the more branch lines there are the greater the traffic of a trunk line. The relation of the Kirin-Chang-ch'un line to the South Manchurian Railway is the same as that of the Fakumen line.\n\nAgain, the Fakumen line connects directly with the Imperial Railways of North China, and those communicate with the seaports of Newchwang and Tien-tsin, which are both ice-bound in winter. The South Manchurian Railway connects directly with Dairen, which is an ice-free port, and the greater proportion of the produce exported will take advantage of the more convenient route of the South Manchurian Railway, direct to Dairen. If the Mongol territory west of Fakumen is penetrated by a railway, communication will be facilitated and business stimulated, and the traffic of the South Manchurian Railway must increase pari passu. Of the foregoing statements ample and trustworthy evidence is obtainable, and it is clear that any real endeavour of China towards the important reform of increasing the means of communication must begin with the extension of railways. But the South Manchurian Railway Company takes no steps to inquire into these matters, and merely insists that the Fakumen line will damage their interests, with the result that Japan is opposing the efforts of China to improve communications in her own territory. That is not a situation which the Chinese Government had any reason to anticipate.\n\nWe have the honour to request your Excellency to be so good as to place the considerations urged above—that in building the proposed Fakumen line China's desire is to increase the means of communication in her own territory, and in no way to injure the interests of the South Manchurian Railway—before the Japanese Government, and avail, &c.\n\n[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nCHINA RAILWAYS.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[June 29.]\n\nSECTION 6.\n\n[22277]\n\nNo. 1,\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received June 29.)\n\n(No. 209.) Sir,\n\nPeking, May 11, 1908. WITH reference to your despatch No. 131 of the 9th March, transmitting a copy of a private letter from Mr. Gundry, President of the China Association, on the subject of discrimination in railway freight rates in Manchuria, I have the honour to state that regulations concerning the allowance of rebates to persons who pay annually over a certain amount of freight were issued by the South Manchuria Railway Company towards the end of September, and came into force on the 1st October, 1907. By these regulations rebates do not commence until the amount of freight exceeds 100,000 yen. Under 150,000 yen the rebate is 3 per cent., and increases by 1 per cent. on every additional 50,000 yen of freight up to 500,000 yen, and when the latter sum is reached or exceeded the rebate remains fixed at 7 per cent.\n\nAs no distinction is made in regard to the nationality of the owner or to the provenance of the goods, there would appear to be no valid grounds for objecting to the regulations, while the actual volume of trade in Manchuria scarcely warrants the apprehension that British trade will be adversely affected by the system of rebates in its present shape.\n\nI may add that every care is being taken to safeguard British interests against any attempt at discrimination in favour of Japanese merchants or goods. I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.\n\n[1814-6]\n\n96", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 417060, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 386, "title": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "# CHINA RAILWAYS\n## CONFIDENTIAL\n### [16759]\n#### (No. 101.)\n\nNo. 1.\n\n| RECS |\n| --- |\n| R 4 AUG 08 |\n\n[May 15.]\n\n## SECTION 1.\n\n**Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.**~(Received May 15.)\n\n(Telegraphic.) P.\n\n### HSINMINTUN-FAKUMEN Railway\n\nPeking, May 15, 1908.\n\nI fear that the \"Times\" correspondent's telegram, of which you informed me in your telegram No. 81 of the 13th instant, is unduly optimistic.\n\nThe facts are as follows:-\n\nIn reply to the Japanese Government's protest, a note, of which I am told the substance was communicated to you, was sent to the Japanese Minister by the Wai-wu Pu on the 6th instant.\n\nFive days later, Baron Hayashi stated to the Board that his Government would not raise any objection to a branch line connecting Fakumen with the South Manchurian Railway. I would refer you, in this connection, to the telegram No. 31 from His Majesty's Ambassador at Tokio.\n\nAs regards the proposed arrangement, which I reported to you in my telegram No. 86 of the 25th instant, Baron Hayashi expressed to me his personal views in its favour. The Chinese Government, however, judging from present indications, would not accept any arrangement binding them to make Fakumen the extreme northerly terminus of the railway line.\n\nBaron Hayashi will be able to discuss the matter personally with his Government, as he left Peking to-day and will not return to China.\n\n[2972 p-1]\n383", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 417065, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 391, "title": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "# **CONFIDENTIAL**\n\nThis Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.\n\n2\n\nwhereby the Hong Kong and Shanghae Bank and the Banque de l'Indo-Chine were to participate equally.\n\nBut the Viceroy still refused French participation, as he was under no obligation to them.\n\nLater in the same month, the negotiations having been taken up by Mr. Hillier during the absence of Mr. Bland, Sir J. Jordan sent home the translation of a communication from Chang to the Chinese Government, stating that the British wanted the French to participate, and saying he had refused.\n\nSir J. Jordan then reported that the French group were apparently willing that the British and Chinese Corporation should appear as the lender, but that the French Government would not agree.\n\nThese loan negotiations having fallen through, the matter remained for some time in abeyance.\n\nIn February 1908 the question was taken up again, and in consequence of certain proposals made by the French Syndicate to the British and Chinese Corporation in connection with the intention of the Chinese Government to pay off the Peking-Hankow Railway concessionnaires, Mr. Addis went to Paris on behalf of the British and Chinese Corporation, and an Agreement was arrived at, providing that the financial interest of each group was to be equal in both the Canton-Hankow and Peking-Hankow loans; the British and Chinese Corporation were to control the former line and the French group the latter. It was understood that this arrangement received the concurrence of the French Government.\n\nIn the matter of the Canton-Hankow Railway, however, the Chinese refuse to proceed pending the settlement of certain Belgian claims, and matters are at present in abeyance. As regards the proposed Anglo-French loan to China for the redemption of the Peking-Hankow Railway, it is understood that a settlement has just been effected between the French and English groups on a basis approved by the French Foreign Office.\n\n## 2. \n\nTo turn to M. Cambon's remarks about the present attitude of His Majesty's Minister at Peking and the agent of the British group, Sir J. Jordan has assured us that though he has stated more than once to his French colleague his personal opinion that the French claim for the extension of the Chengting-Taiyuenfu Railway to Singanfu would react seriously on Anglo-French railway projects, he has otherwise maintained throughout an attitude of the strictest abstention; and he adds that he will be careful to keep in as close touch as possible with M. Bapst. He appears somewhat disappointed, however, that, in view of his excellent relations with M. Bapst and the importance of the joint Anglo-French railway interests in China, he was not warned of the intention to make the claim before it became public property at Peking.\n\nAs regards the Peking-Hankow and Canton-Hankow Railways, Sir J. Jordan has pointed out that it was he, and not the French Minister, who first ascertained in July 1907 that the Wai-wu Pu did not object to French participation, though Viceroy Chang, the official in charge of the negotiations, was at the time opposed to it. He has reported that Mr. Bland has been throughout, and is still, in intimate relations with M. Casenave, the French Bank representative, and not the least suspicion of disloyalty between them has ever been suggested.\n\nMoreover, Sir J. Jordan, who has just seen the French Minister, found him fully informed on the Hillier Loan negotiations of June 1907, referred to in the first part of this Memorandum. In reply to a direct question which he was asked as to whether he had any reason to complain of Mr. Hillier not keeping him informed, M. Bapst informed Sir J. Jordan twice, with an emphatic gesture, \"None whatever.\" M. Bapst explained that negotiations were still in a preliminary stage, and that Mr. Hillier had promised to let him know as soon as they became serious.\n\nThe above will no doubt be sufficient to convince M. Cambon that there is no foundation for the view which the French Government appear to have taken of our action, and he will be able to see that while both here and at Hankow we have borne almost the entire burden of these difficult negotiations, our first care throughout has been the loyal observance of our engagements to the French, and that we can hardly be blamed for the fact that ex-Viceroy Chang Chih-tung is more opposed to French participation than the Central Government as a whole.\n\nForeign Office, July 15, 1908,\n\n## **CHINA RAILWAYS**\n\n## **CONFIDENTIAL**\n\n[25440]\n\n### No. 1.\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received July 22.)\n\n(No. 291. Confidential.)\n\nSir,\n\nPeking, June 25, 1908.\n\nTHE Japanese Government not having answered the note, inclosed in my despatch No. 214 of the 12th May, which the Wai-wu Pu sent the Japanese Chargé d'Affaires a reminder a few days ago, maintaining the views previously expressed as regards the projected Fakumen-Hsinmintun Railway, and requesting the Japanese Government, if they still held to their original objections, to state a clear definition of what is to be considered as \"in the close vicinity of or parallel to\" the South Manchurian line. Translation of the reminder, which has been communicated to me privately by his Excellency Tong Shao-yi, is inclosed herewith. The semi-official statement of the Japanese case, which was published in Tokio on the 10th June, and which has no doubt been sent to you by His Majesty's Ambassador, is being made widely known in China, and it produced a rejoinder from the pen of Mr. Bland, copy of which I inclose for your information.\n\n(Translation.)\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) J. N. JORDAN.\n\n### Inclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nPrince Ching to Japanese Chargé d'Affaires,\n\nJune 1908.\n\nSir,\n\nIN my note of the 6th May to his Excellency Baron Hayashi, I had the honour to explain, with reference to the project of the Chinese Government to construct a railway from Hsin Min-fu to Fakumen, that the object in view was to develop this region and facilitate its communications; and that there was no idea of injuring the interests of the South Manchurian Railway.\n\nNo reply has yet been received to this note, and I now have the honour to maintain again that the extension of the line in this direction can in no wise be said to be in the close vicinity of the South Manchurian line or parallel to it, as was clearly explained in my former note.\n\nI presume, therefore, that the Japanese Government have no objection to offer, but if they still hold the view already expressed I trust that you will afford me a clear definition of what is to be considered as \"in the close vicinity of or parallel to\" the South Manchurian line, in replying to my previous note upon this subject.\n\nI avail, &c.\n\n(Signed) Prince CHʻING.\n\n### Inclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\nMemorandum by Mr. Bland respecting the proposed Fakumen Railway.\n\nON the 10th June it was announced by the Press Bureau in Tôkiô that an \"authoritative statement\" had been issued, stating the Japanese case against the construction of the proposed railway from Hsinmintun to Fakumen, and a summary of its arguments was telegraphed abroad. Whether an anonymous document can properly be described as authoritative is open to question; nevertheless, the document having been officially communicated to His Majesty's Ambassador in Tokiô, we may reasonably presume that the Japanese Government subscribes to the statements and arguments therein contained. Many of these are disingenuous to the verge of puerility, and the author assumes in the general reader an ignorance of Far Eastern events and politics.\n\nPage 388", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 417068, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 394, "title": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nCHINA RAILWAYS.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[24807]\n\nNo. 1.\n\n391\n\n[July 18.]\n\nSECTION 2.\n\nSir C. MacDonald to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received July 18.)\n\n(No. 132. Confidential.) Sir,\n\nTokió, June 8, 1908.\n\nBARON HAYASHI, Japanese Minister in Peking, returned from his post on the 23rd, and shortly afterwards the newspapers published reports of an interview which a representative of the \"Mainichi Dempo\" had with his Excellency, from which it would seem that the latter had expressed himself with regard to Japanese policy in China in a very outspoken manner.\n\nWith regard to the Hsinmintung-Fakumen Railway, Baron Hayashi's remarks are particularly frank. His Excellency is quoted as attaching little importance to the parallel line argument, for he is of opinion that if the railway is really destined to develop Manchuria's resources there is no reason to oppose its construction. Nor does he think that the operations of the South Manchurian Railway are sufficiently important to warrant it in claiming a monopoly. He is further of opinion that, as Manchuria is Chinese territory, it becomes a question whether, and for how long, not in Manchuria, but in all parts of the world, Agreements of an abnormal character which impair the sovereignty of the lord of the soil, ought to possess operative force. The above is the gist of the \"Mainichi's\" report so far as the Hsinmintung-Fakumen Railway is concerned, but Baron Hayashi is almost equally outspoken with regard to the other points on which his Government are at variance with that of China.\n\nOn the day the above was published, the 25th instant, I met Count Hayashi, and in the course of conversation asked whether his namesake (they are in no way related to each other) had been correctly reported. His Excellency replied that the report was correct, and he had that morning spoken to Baron Hayashi with regard to his indiscretion in allowing himself to be interviewed. Count Hayashi, however, did not seem to consider the indiscretion in any way serious, but on the contrary it seemed to afford him some amusement. The Baron, he said, was always renowned for his courage, both physical and moral, in fact, he was a regular Samurai.\" I suggested that such outspoken statements made by the Japanese Representative on the spot might embarrass his Government, which held almost diametrically opposite views. Count Hayashi admitted this, and blamed the indiscretion, but seemed rather pleased that his namesake had the courage of his convictions.\n\nI asked whether Baron Hayashi would return to Peking. His Excellency said \"No.\" He had done excellent work both in Corea and China, and it was intended to promote him as Ambassador to Rome!\n\nOn the following day Baron Hayashi, who is an old friend of mine (having been Secretary at the Japanese Legation at Peking when I was there as Minister), came to see me.\n\nHe admitted that in principle he was entirely at variance with his Government as regards the Hsinmintung-Fakumen Railway, and he regretted that he could not persuade them to see matters as he did. He considered, however, that his Government were technically right, and that both Paulings and the British and Chinese Corporation should have been informed of the existence of the prohibitory Article in the Protocol of 1905 by the Chinese Government before matters had gone so far, but in principle he thought all Agreements and Conventions which interfered with the sovereign rights of any Power were wrong, and he considered that China should be allowed to build this railway even though it did compete with the South Manchurian Railway; since his return he had endeavoured to persuade his Government to take a broad view of this question, but the opposition of the merchants, and, he added with a significant smile, the military party had been too much for him. There are no indications at present of the Japanese Government yielding on the point of this railway, though there is a very general desire to come to terms with China on all outstanding questions. The continuation of the railway from Fakumen to Tsitsihar is particularly distasteful to the Japanese Government. From what Baron Hayashi...\n\n[1841 -2]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 417069, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 395, "title": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.\n\n392\n\n[July 18.]\n\nSECTION 1.\n\n2\n\nsaid, I do not think he has given up all hope of persuading his Government to waive their Treaty rights and allow the railway as far as Fakumen to be built with branch lines to the South Manchurian Railway, and it is possible that the Japanese Government may yield. I venture to think that the strategical reasons against this railway weigh heavier with them than any damage it may do financially to the South Manchurian Railway.\n\nA copy of this despatch has been sent to His Majesty's Minister at Peking,\n\nI have, &c.\n\nCHINA RAILWAYS.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[24838]\n\nNo. 1.\n\n(Signed) CLAUDE M. MACDONALD,\n\nSir C. MacDonald to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received July 18.)\n\n(No. 163.) Sir,\n\nTokió, June 19, 1908.\n\nI HAVE the honour to transmit herewith a statement, drawn up in the Japanese Foreign Office and unofficially communicated to me by Count Hayashi on the 9th June, dealing with the Resolution adopted by the Newchwang Chamber of Commerce on the question of the projected Hsinmintun-Fakumen Railway.\n\nIn communicating to me this statement his Excellency expressed the hope that I would forward a copy to Lord Ffrench, the agent of Messrs. Paulings at Peking, which I accordingly did.\n\nWithin three days of my receiving this document it was published in all the foreign newspapers of Japan, and has, I understand, been forwarded for publication to all the leading foreign journals of the Far East, with the object, no doubt, of counteracting the effect that may have been produced by the publication of the Resolution of the Newchwang Chamber.\n\nJudging from the tone of this document, it might be concluded that no further hope need be entertained of the Chinese Government being allowed to construct the railway in question, or, in fact, any railway at all within the limits of the three provinces.\n\nKnowing, however, as I do, the views held by Baron Hayashi, late Japanese Minister at Peking (see my despatch No. 132, Confidential, of the 3rd June), I am of the opinion that the matter is still under consideration, and, in spite of the justification of the Japanese position, as set forth in the inclosed statement, that, from reasons of general policy, it is possible that Japan may still modify her present attitude. Much, however, will depend on the treatment China accords to other outstanding questions. Judging from a conversation I recently had with Mr. Denison, Adviser to the Japanese Foreign Office, it is exceedingly unlikely that Japan will consent to a continuation of the line to Tsitsihar,\n\n(Copy to Peking.)\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) CLAUDE M. MACDONALD,\n\nInclosure in No. 1.\n\nStatement by the Japanese Foreign Office respecting the projected Hsinmintun-Fakumen Railway.\n\nIN November last a Contract was signed between the Chinese Government and the British firm of Pauling and Co., providing for the construction of a railway line from Hsinmintun to Fakumen in extension of the existing Shanhaikwan-Hsinmintun line.\n\nThe Japanese Government, upon learning, in August 1907, that negotiations on the subject of the projected line were in progress, warned the Chinese Government that the construction of the line in question would be in violation of the self-denying engagement contained in the Protocol annexed to the Treaty of Peking of December 1905. That engagement, in translation, reads as follows:-\n\n\"The Chinese Government engage, for the purpose of protecting the interests of the South Manchurian Railway, not to construct, prior to the recovery by them of the said railway, any main line in the neighbourhood of, and parallel to, that railway, or any branch line which would be prejudicial to the interest of the above-mentioned railway.\"\n\nThat warning was repeated in October and again in November, but was unheeded. When, in January of this year, the Japanese Government first learned of the conclusion\n\n(1841 s) -1]\n\nB", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 417070, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 396, "title": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "2\n\nof the Contract, it only remained for them to lodge with the Government of China formal protest against the execution of the work,\n\nThe British Government, to which a copy of the self-denying stipulation above quoted had been communicated early in 1906, do not, it is understood, question the validity of Japan's objections, but the Newchwang Chamber of Commerce thinks otherwise, and on the 13th March last adopted the following Resolution :\n\nThe Newchwang General Chamber of Commerce, being convinced that the extension of the Imperial Railway of North China from Hsinmintun to Fakumen and beyond, is vitally important to the development and prosperity of Manchurian trade, strongly protests against the steps now being taken by the Government of Japan to enforce the abandonment of this extension, Japan having specifically undertaken in the Treaty of Portsmouth-\n\n\"Not to obstruct any general measures common to all countries which China may take for the development of commerce and industry in Manchuria.”\n\nThe Chairman of the Chamber forwarded a copy of the Resolution to the Newchwang Consular Body, and in his covering letter, dated the 16th March, 1908, he gave what he declared to be the grounds upon which the views expressed in the Resolution had been arrived at. He admitted that the construction of branch lines westward from the South Manchurian Railway system would assist and promote the development which was the raison d'être of the Resolution, but, he naively added, that such branch lines, by diverting the trade to Dairen, would necessarily do incalculable injury to the prospects and trade of Newchwang. Finally, in the commercial interests of \"Newchwang in particular\" and of \"Manchuria generally,\" he asked that a copy of his letter might be transmitted by the Consular Body to the Diplomatic Corps in Peking, and he stated that the Committee of the Chamber \"regard the question at issue as of such vital and far-reaching importance that it intends by every means available to give publicity to the views herein expressed, and to that end purposes communicating the substance of these representations to the various Chambers of Commerce and kindred Associations, and to the leading press of China, Europe, and America,\"\n\nThe Consular Body did not, for obvious reasons, transmit the letter in question to the Diplomatic Corps as requested, but the Committee of the Newchwang Chamber has evidently carried out its threat of appealing directly to the public against the action of Japan, since the Shanghae Chamber of Commerce has taken up the issue in the interest of Newchwang.\n\nIf the representation of the Committee of the Newchwang Chamber had contained only a fair and impartial statement of the case, it might well have been permitted to remain unanswered. But it is characterized by loose-thinking, extravagant assertions and illogical conclusions and, coming as it does from a body of intelligent and responsible merchants whose utterances are entitled to consideration, it is due to truth and fair dealing that its errors should be corrected and its fallacies exposed.\n\nThe first assertions in the letter under discussion that call for examination are-\n\n(a.) That the Liao River constitutes a natural traffic boundary between the projected Hsinmintun-Fakumen line and the existing South Manchurian system;\n\n(b.) That the trade of Fakumen and its hinterland has always found its outlet to the seaboard at Newchwang, Chinwantao, &c., through Hsinmintun, and thence by the Hsinmintun-Kaopantsze line;\n\n(c.) That such trade has never gone eastward towards the townships and districts operated by the South Manchurian system; and\n\n(d.) That consequently there are no grounds for Japan's contention that the proposed new road must be competitive with, and detrimental to, the Japanese line.\n\nIt is inaccurate to say that the Liao-ho, in its reaches from Hsinmintun to Fakumen, forms a natural traffic boundary, or that the trade of Fakumen and its neighbourhood has never sought an outlet by means of the South Manchurian Railway. In those regions the river is easily passable and, as a matter of fact, readily ascertainable, the existing line actually serves, and has always served in the matter of transportation, the country to the west equally with that to the east of the river.\n\nProduce in large quantities is conveyed from the Fakumen regions to Tieling in Chinese carts, and thence is carried southward by the existing railway system. Especially is this true of the winter season when the rivers are frozen over and the whole land becomes one broad, smooth highway.\n\n3\n\nThe site of the projected railway is in that portion of the valley of the Liao which is now served by the Japanese line, and it may be assumed, without fear of contradiction, that the proposed line, if constructed, would draw away from the existing system some portion of its traffic. Sir A. Hosie, the Acting British Commercial Attaché at Peking, in writing recently, on the subject of the commercial situation in Manchuria, said:-\n\n\"It is true that the Imperial railways of North China are competing successfully with the Japanese line from Newchwang to Mukden.\"\n\nIf this be true under present conditions, it cannot be doubted that with an extension of the Chinese line, there would be, at least, a corresponding extension of competition,\n\nRussia, at the time when she owned the South Manchurian Railway, clearly foresaw the danger to be apprehended from possible competition, and to safeguard her interests in that respect she inserted in the Convention with China of the 8th April, 1899, relative to the restoration of Manchuria, a stipulation providing that in case, in future, an extension of the Shanhaikwan-Yinkow-Hsinmintun line or the construction of branch lines in the southern part of Manchuria, was to be undertaken, the matter should be previously arranged by an understanding between the Russian and Chinese Governments.\n\nThis measure of reasonable precaution did not provoke any hostile criticism. The silence on the part of British subjects may, however, be explained by the fact that they were at the time practically excluded from railway exploitation in regions north of the Great Wall by the Anglo-Russian understanding of the 28th April, 1899.\n\nJapan, by Article 6 of the Treaty of Portsmouth and Article 1 of the Treaty of Peking of 1905, was subrogated to all the rights, privileges and properties of Russia in the South Manchurian Railway. But desiring to have her rights placed beyond question, she obtained from China the engagement to which the Newchwang Chamber of Commerce now so seriously objects.\n\nIf the engagement secured by Russia from Great Britain in 1899 and from China in 1902, were not unreasonable it is difficult to understand why Japan's engagement with China of 1905, should be condemned.\n\nEqually exaggerated and, therefore, equally demanding examination, are the statements contained in the letter, on the subject of the scope and value of the engagement (already quoted) contained in the Protocol annexed to the Peking Treaty of 1905. After citing the engagement in question the letter declares :-\n\n(a) That the country to be operated by the proposed line (Hsinmintun-Fakumen) cannot be considered to be in the neighbourhood of the South Manchurian Railway,\"\n\n(b) That as already demonstrated the proposed line neither will nor can be competitive with or in any way detrimental to the interests of the South Manchurian Railway.\n\n(c.) That in no country in the world of similar population and topography, could or would the vested trade interests or sphere of an existing railway system be held to include so extensive an area, as to preclude the construction of other lines, even though competitive (if in the commercial sense that were possible) outside of a 35-mile limit.\n\n(d.) That having in view Article 4 of the Treaty of Portsmouth Japan's action in exacting or receiving from China an undertaking such as is alleged, which is diametrically opposed in principle and practice to the pledge she had herself given to the world Powers, must be considered to have been ultra vires, and therefore the said undertaking by China to be null and void and of no effect.\n\nAnswering these several statements in the order in which they were made it may be said-\n\nFirstly. The omission from paragraph (a), above quoted, of the words \"and parallel to\" which were conjunctively used with the phrase \"in the neighbourhood of” in China's engagement of 1905, may be taken as an admission on the part of the Committee of the Newchwang Chamber, that the projected railway would parallel the existing line. The question whether it could be regarded as in the same neighbourhood, depends upon many considerations of more importance than mere distance.\n\nThus a railway, entering a valley, undivided by any impassable streams and already served...\n\n[1841 s-1]\n\nB 2\n\n393", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 417071, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 397, "title": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "occupied and actually served in all its parts by another line, would, if running parallel with and at a distance of 30 or 40 miles from the original line, and bidding for a share of its traffic, be clearly regarded as in the neighbourhood of and detrimental to the established line. On the other hand, a railway separated for instance from another by a mountain range, could not be considered as in the neighbourhood of such other line, even if within 10 or 15 miles of it. Accordingly, objections to the contemplated line on the ground that it would be in the neighbourhood of and parallel with the existing railway cannot in the circumstances of the case be said to be unreasonable. Manifestly a railway that is near enough to another line to enter into competition with such other line, must be regarded as in the same neighbourhood.\n\nSecondly. It should be pointed out that assertion is not demonstration. It was, it is true, asserted earlier in the letter under examination, that the proposed line would not be competitive with or detrimental to the existing railway. Not only was that assertion wholly unsupported, except by the inaccurate statement that no trade went eastward from the Fakumen region to districts operated by the existing system, but was contradicted by the suggestion as to the necessity of the new line in the commercial interests of Newchwang. The assertion is, moreover irreconcilable with the statement of Sir A. Hosie, which has already been quoted.\n\nThirdly. To say that in no country in the world could the vested interests of a railway preclude the construction of another line within a distance of 35 miles is to say more than can be substantiated. Even in China at least one instance in direct contradiction of that statement actually exists. In 1898 the Russo-Chinese Bank entered into a contract with the Chinese authorities concerning the construction of the Chengting-Taiyuan Railway. Article 5 of that contract reads as follows:-\n\n\"During the whole thirty years and or while the loan is unredeemed, the high authorities of Shansi shall, at the request of the Company, interdict the construction of another railway or other mechanical means of transport between Liuliu (Chengting) and Taiyuan, as such would be detrimental to the interest of this railway.\"\n\nLater in the same year the Peking Syndicate signed an Agreement with the Shansi Bureau of Trade, for mining purposes, iron works and transporting mine products of all kinds in the Province of Shansi. Having regard to the engagement above quoted it was provided in Article 17 of the Peking Syndicate Agreement:-\n\n\"With reference to the Chengting to Taiyuan Railway, for the construction of which the Bureau has borrowed capital from others, the Peking Syndicate, to avoid disputes, shall not construct any railway within 100 li on each side of it.\"\n\nAside from this concrete case, it may be pointed out that in a country where for centuries produce in large quantities has been transported over long distances by men and beasts, 35 miles is certainly well within the radius of competition for parallel lines of railway.\n\nBut, it should be added, the distance between the existing and proposed lines is, in fact, considerably less than 35 miles: From Hsinmintun to Mukden is 32 miles; from Fakumen to Tiehling 27 miles; and from Shintaitza on the South Manchurian line to the nearest point on the proposed line is only 24 miles.\n\nFourthly. The pronouncement that the Peking Agreement of 1905 was violative of Article 4 of the Treaty of Portsmouth, and opposed to the pledge given by Japan to the Powers, is a statement that the Newchwang Chamber of Commerce was not competent to make, and one which that body would never have made, if it had given due consideration of the question. The Treaty of Portsmouth was between Japan and Russia, and if Japan has concluded engagements with other Powers inconsistent with that Act, it is for Russia to call her to account. The Peking Agreement was concluded with China, and the Chinese Plenipotentiaries had the Treaty of Portsmouth before them when negotiating that Agreement. Accordingly it may be assumed that China no less than Japan considered that Agreement as entirely reconcilable with the Portsmouth Compact. The only pledge that Japan has given to the Powers is the pledge regarding the open door in China, which has equally been given by the other Powers-America, Germany, France, Great Britain, and Russia. Those Powers have all been parties to, or have supported in favour of, their subjects and citizens, Railway Concessions in China in which appear stipulations similar to, and equally comprehensive with, the provisions of the Peking Agreement above mentioned. Thus in the Agreement with the American China Development Company of the 13th July, 1900, for the construction of the Hankow-Canton Railway line, it was provided-\n\nThat, without the express consent in writing of the Director-General and the American Company, no other rival railway detrimental to the business of the same is to be permitted, and no parallel roads to the Canton-Hankow line are to be allowed to the injury of the latter's interest within the area served by the Canton-Hankow main line or branch lines.\n\nIn the Agreement of the 9th July, 1903, with the British and Chinese Corporation (Limited), for the construction of the Shanghae-Nanking line the same stipulation, mutatis mutandis, appears.\n\nThe Canton-Kowloon Railway Agreement of March 1907 between the Wai-wu Pu and the British and Chinese Corporation (Limited) contains the following :-\n\nIt is further understood that the Chinese Government will not build another line competing with this railway to its detriment.\n\nWe have already seen the Russo-Chinese Agreements regarding the Shankaikwan-Yingkow-Hsinmintun and the Chengting-Taiyuan lines, as well as the Anglo-Chinese Shansi engagement, and it will be sufficient, in concluding this branch of the question, to call attention to the fact that Germany, in virtue of her Kiaochow engagements with China, claims the exclusive right of railway exploitation in the Province of Shantung. It was because of this claim that the construction of the Tientsin-Chinkiang Railway became in part a British and in part a German undertaking.\n\nThe last point in the letter of the Chairman of the Newchwang Chamber of Commerce, which requires examination, is the statement that the territory to the west of the Liao Ho was during the Russo-Japanese war, specifically proclaimed by China and officially recognized by the belligerents to be neutral territory, and consequently, even if it be assumed that the undertaking in question was valid, that undertaking could only have had application to the territory which was within the area of hostilities, and which furnished the cause of the war, and was the subject of the Treaty.\n\nIn making that statement the author of the letter, in his partisan zeal in defence of the interests of Newchwang, forgot his history as well as his geography.\n\nThe region through which the projected line was to run is in Manchuria, and was as much the cause of the war and the subject of Treaty adjustment as any other portion of the three provinces. Hsinmintun and Fakumen were opened by the Peking Treaty of 1905, and the Hsinmintun-Mukden line was one of the questions disposed of by that Treaty.\n\nChina specifically proclaimed that her neutrality extended to those localities unoccupied by belligerent troops. The region in question was throughout the war so occupied by one or the other of the belligerents.\n\nJapan officially recognized as neutral Chinese territory not occupied by Russia. Russia officially declared the following area to be outside the neutral territory :-\n\nA portion of the region situated on the right bank of the Liao Ho, the boundaries of which are formed by the Liao Ho by the railway line Yingkow-Kaopantze; afterwards by the railway line to a point where this line crosses an affluent of the Liao Ho, the Liou Ho (a little south of Hsinmintun), and finally by the said affluent the Liou Ho as far as the frontier of Mongolia.\n\nOn the ground, therefore, of historical precedents, no less than reasonable precaution, the action of the Japanese Government in interposing a veto against the construction of the projected line cannot in justice be condemned.\n\nThe Newchwang Chamber of Commerce, as is seen from its Resolution, places great reliance on Article 4 of the Treaty of Portsmouth. Accordingly it may be explained that a measure which is injurious to one Power cannot fairly be regarded as a general measure common to all countries.\n\nPage 66", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 417967, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-353 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 679, "title": "CO129-353 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "# Report on the Examination of the Coast for a Suitable Port\n\nI went to Shanghae and saw the Coast Inspector, Captain Tyler, and procured from him a rough chart of the place and other information regarding it.\n\nOn the 13th August, I proceeded to Hulutao, which is situated some 25 or 30 li by cart road south of Lienshan Station, on the Imperial Chinese Railway. It is a promontory running out into the sea, in a direction, roughly speaking, at right angles to the coast-line from east to west, its western extremity joining the mainland, and its eastern end projecting nearly 6 further out into the sea. It is covered with numerous rounded hills, the highest being 400 feet in height. On the northern side, the water is very shallow, and on the south, it is deep, with a uniform mud bottom.\n\nI made a close examination and survey of the bay, checking the soundings which had been made previously, noting the tides, &c., so as to be able to judge of its suitability. I remained there for nine days, and during that time, there was high wind and a rough sea from the south and south-west, which interrupted our operations, but gave good illustration of the place under unfavourable conditions in summer. This experience was valuable as showing the direction it would be necessary to give to a break-water in order to give complete shelter in summer.\n\nI made many inquiries of the people living there and others acquainted with the place in winter in order to get what information I could regarding the extent to which it may be considered ice-free. They all agree that, although extremely cold, the ice does not form over all the bay on the south side till late in the season, and then for about ten days only. Also, that even then there is always open water with drift ice beyond the promontory, and this open water appears to be about 4 li wide, and to extend all along the coast to the south-west from one projecting part of the coast-line to another, which should make navigation practicable. Some of my informants were of the opinion that access to the bay might sometimes be difficult, if not impossible, for about a month in the season, but they were not all agreed that it would be for so long a time. They maintain that the ice when it does form will not bear a man's weight, so that it is unsafe to walk upon. The tidal current seems to run very strong in that place, and there is a rise of tide of 10 feet, which may account for the ice being broken up, or not getting time enough to form properly.\n\nFrom Hulutao, I proceeded down the coast first of all to Hunter's Point or Wang Hai Szu, which seemed also a likely place, but on examination proved to be unsuitable on account of rock and stones on the north-east side and shallow on the south-west, which is said to be constantly frozen.\n\nI went to Ning Yuen Chou and inspected the coast in that vicinity, more especially a place called Wa Sze Tao or Tung Yao Chan, which is only about 18 li from the railway line. Here we took soundings out to a distance of 2,000 feet from the shore in an east and west direction and also from north to south, but found the water too shallow, and from its position, the place seems liable to be frozen up in winter, except where fully exposed to the winds beyond the coast-line and outside the shelter of the hills. That this is the case is also confirmed by statements of villagers living there.\n\nI then went to Chu Hua Tao, on the south-east coast of which is a place which might have served excellently well if our object had been the selection of a small naval port instead of a commercial one. The island is 3 miles long from north-east to south-west; it has numerous hills, some of which are about 800 feet high, and is situated about 6 miles from the mainland, the intervening water being extremely shallow. It seemed that it might be practicable to make a road from the mainland to the island, but it is subject to very rough seas sometimes at high water, which would make such a road a very expensive undertaking in itself. On the island, which is very fertile, are some excellent quarries of granite, where stone has been procured for bridges on the Imperial railways. The water is 40 to 50 feet deep in a sheltered bay on the south-west corner, where the tidal current keeps it free of ice, but its distance from the mainland makes it impracticable as a commercial port. But this fact and the ease with which it could be fortified, its great depth of water, sheltered situation, and other advantages make it worthy of note as a possible naval port for the north. It is situated about 40 miles north of Chin Wang Tao and 20 miles south of Hulutao. If not entirely ice-free, it would have advantages over such a place as the Russian Vladivostock.\n\nAfter leaving Chu Hua Tao, I went to Shan Hai Kuan, but apart from the disadvantage of its nearness to Chinwangtao, I found no suitable place in that locality. It has shallow water and little shelter, so that its bays are constantly frozen out to the coast-line, and it has very little rise of tide to break up the ice.\n\nI finally went to Tien Chiao Chang to judge of the conditions at Chinchow Bay, but found it an impracticable place as a winter port, and only useful for junks in the open season. The water is so shallow that the largest junks have to anchor at a distance of 20 li from the shore: any attempt, therefore, to improve the place by dredging or otherwise would involve prohibitive expenditure. The water is frozen there to the bottom in winter, and Kaochiao is even in a worse condition.\n\nThe result of my examination of the coast has been, therefore, to show decisively that Hulutao is the most suitable, if not the only fit place for a port between Newchwang and Shanhaikuan, and it is fortunately an exceedingly good one, both from its natural conditions and its situation as regards the trade of a large part of Manchuria.\n\nConsidering it first as a winter port, there is not sufficiently accurate knowledge of the winter condition of the Gulf of Liaotung to enable one to judge with any certainty of the period during which it is open to navigation.\n\nWe know that the Liao River is frozen up from about the 24th November to the middle of March, but the fresh water of the river freezes at a temperature much higher than sea water, and before it reaches Newchwang, the waters of the Liao have been cooled to the freezing point by passing through an immense distance of frozen country.\n\nFrom the thermometer records kept at the Harbour-master's office at Newchwang, it appears that through the night, the temperatures are below the freezing point of sea water for two months, from about the end of December till the middle of January, yet the day temperatures are generally so very much higher as to make it probable that the warmth of the days counteracts in a great measure the effect of the cold nights.\n\nConsidering also that the currents and high rise of tide will in themselves break up the ice formed at night time, and that Hulutao, from the configuration of the hills behind it, is fully exposed to the off-shore winds from the north-west, which are frequent at that season, it is easily seen how the ice may be blown to sea and out of the bay, once its connection with the shore is broken. There is no record of ships encountering ice in the gulf when coming to Newchwang after the river is open to navigation.\n\nI am inclined to think, therefore, that the difficulties regarding the ice will not be found so serious as is generally supposed, and that it is highly probable that Hulutao will only be closed to navigation during the coldest months in the year, say, from the middle of January till the middle of February. This can only be satisfactorily proved by making the practical demonstration by means of a well-found steamer, which should be chartered to proceed to Hulutao, say, four times in the winter, the middle of the months of December, January, February, and March. A competent person should be stationed there, also throughout the coming winter, to keep a record of the winds and temperatures and of the tides, and the state of the ice in the bay. By this means, most valuable information will be obtained as to the conditions of the place in view of its suitability for a winter port.\n\nI think, from a long experience gained at Chinwangtao, that we should be quite safe in considering the advantages of Hulutao, on the assumption of its being closed to navigation for about a month.\n\nAs a port for Manchuria in the open season, the advantages of its site are incontestable.\n\nComparing it with other trade routes, it is 60 miles nearer to Mukden than Dalny, and it would have also this advantage - being the gateway port of Manchuria, it would be purely under Chinese control instead of under the Japanese, as is the case of Dalny.\n\nIt is 100 miles nearer Mukden than Chinwangtao.\n\nIts distance from Hsinmintun is 50 miles.\n\nIt is in a district within reach of some of the best coal mines in North China, which are worked at present at Pei-piao and Yichow, but only need to be developed by modern methods and joined by railway in order to secure the coal market of Shanghae, the quality being far superior to anything offered there at present. This alone would make a very important trade for the port.\n\nThese advantages in themselves would secure the success of the port and bring traffic to the Imperial railways and Hulutao, which now goes to Dalny and the South Manchurian Railway.\n\nPage 675", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-353 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 421256, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 45, "title": "CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "# CHINA RAILWAYS\n## CONFIDENTIAL\n### No. 1\n#### SECTION 1\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received December 24.)\n\n**(No. 541. Confidential.)**\nPeking, December 3, 1908.\n\nWITH reference to my despatch No. 467 of the 22nd October last, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith a copy of a despatch from the Acting Consul-General at Mukden respecting the trade routes between Fakumen and Hsinmintun and Fakumen and Tiehling.\n\nThe information supplied by the Acting Commissioner of Customs at Mukden, and summarized by Mr. Willis in his despatch, confirms the conclusion already drawn by Sir Alexander Hosie that the proposed extension of the Chinese railway from Hsinmintun to Fakumen in no way threatens the carrying trade of the Japanese line from Tiehling. Practically the whole of the produce which would be handled by the projected railway comes from the country to the west of Fakumen-Hsinmintun road, and, under present conditions, is transported by cart along that road, or by boat down the Liao River, and does not go near the Japanese line. The tendency is even towards the adoption of a more westerly route, and produce is now being carried in increasing quantities viâ Hsin Shui Hotzu, 90 li to the west of Fakumen, as the country in those regions is gradually being brought under cultivation.\n\nThe sketch map mentioned in the last paragraph of the inclosed despatch has not reached me, but the position of the towns in question is so well known that a map is hardly needed for a proper understanding of the subject.\n\nI have also received the Memorandum of the Acting Commissioner of Customs upon which Mr. Willis' despatch is founded. I have not thought it necessary to inclose it, because Mr. Grone's views and conclusions are fully and accurately summarized by Mr. Willis, and also because the former gives expression to general considerations of a political and historical nature which are extraneous to the point at issue.\n\nI have, &c. \n(Signed) \nJ. N. JORDAN.\n\n### Inclosure in No. 1\n\nActing Consul-General Willis to Sir J. Jordan.\n\n**(No. 76. Confidential.)**\nMukden, November 24, 1908.\n\nIN the hope of supplementing and confirming the information gathered by Sir Alexander Hosie during his recent visit to Fakumen and Tiehling, I have the honour to submit the following brief report on the Fakumen-Hsinmintun and Fakumen-Tiehling trade routes, which has been gathered from information given me by Mr. F. Dawson Gröne, the Acting Commissioner at Mukden, who has just returned from a journey through the district.\n\nThe road from Hsinmintun to Fakumen passes over flat country as far as Hsiao Tatzu, distant 85 li from Hsinmintun; between this point and Fakumen lie a series of low rolling hills, which form no obstacle to cart traffic. The volume of trade passing along this route is described by Mr. Gröne as enormous, consisting mainly of grain, beans, and hemp proceeding southwards. Much of this produce is carried by the railway after arrival at Hsinmintun, but there is still a considerable cart traffic between Fakumen and Newchwang.\n\nLarge as the trade appears to be, the number of inns in decay passed along the road show signs that it has fallen off in recent years, Mr. Gröne's explanation being that large tracts of country to the west of Fakumen are gradually being brought under cultivation, and the main trade of Mongolia is now passing from Chang Chia-tun to Hsinmintun viâ Hsiu Shui Hotzu, distant 90 li westwards from Fakumen. The number...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 421257, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 46, "title": "CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "## \nThe number of Chinese colonists has, according to Mr. Gröne, increased enormously during the past two years.\n\nOn leaving the Fakumen-Tiehling route runs east, bearing slightly south. From Fakumen Plain, a rather difficult pass, called Hung Ling, must be crossed. The country is then level, but there are numerous steep gullies, making the road difficult for laden carts. At a distance of 80 li from Fakumen, 10 li from Tiehling, is the Liao River, which constitutes the real barrier to any extensive interchange of produce along the Fakumen and Tiehling road. The crossing takes place at a village, Ho Chia-hsin, where carts are kept waiting two or three days for their turn to cross in the single ferry-boat plying there. Laden carts must be unladen, and, as the banks are steep, accidents and damage to merchandise are of frequent occurrence.\n\nPassenger traffic between Tiehling and Fakumen is considerable, whilst it is difficult and comparatively expensive to engage passenger carts between Hsinmintun and Fakumen. As the distance between Fakumen and Hsinmintun is 160 li, it is naturally cheaper and more convenient for passengers to prefer the Tiehling route.\n\nA small quantity of Japanese yarns and piece-goods and some oil reach Fakumen via Tiehling, but there is no export to speak of.\n\nThe conclusion to be drawn from Mr. Gröne's report seems to be that, except as far as passengers are concerned, the proposed Fakumen-Hsinmintun extension is not a line that competes with the South Manchurian Railway. The produce that would be carried by the new line comes mainly from the country to the west of Fakumen, and, under present conditions, finds its outlet via Fakumen or Hsiu Shui Hotzu, and does not enter the Japanese sphere.\n\nI enclose a rough sketch-map, showing the relative position and distances of the chief towns mentioned in this despatch.\n\nI have, &c.\n(Signed) **R. WILLIS**\n\nPage 2 \n\n| Office or Individual | Foreign | 1909 |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n\nPrevious Paper `70 76824` \nNext subsequent Paper `41B5` \n`1739---A. & E. W.- 20062/27---25009-11-08` \n`44783/08` \n`1189` \n`45` \n`1183` \n`II JA. 9`", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 421316, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 105, "title": "CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "# 103\n\nThis Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government\n\n## CHINA RAILWAYS\n\n**CONFIDENTIAL**\n\n[122]\n\nNo. 1.\n\n2497\n\nJanuary 2, 1909.\n\nA. 19\n\n## SECTION 1.\n\nSir C. MacDonald to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received January 2, 1909.)\n\n**(No. 311.)**\n\nSir,\n\nTokió, November 27, 1908. IN the concluding paragraph of the summary inclosed in my despatch No. 293, Confidential, of the 15th instant, allusion was made to an Agreement signed at Peking on the 12th of the present month by the Japanese Secretary of Legation and the Director of the Chinese Railway Bureau with regard to a loan to the Chinese Government by the South Manchurian Railway Company of 320,000 yen (32,700l) towards the capital of the Hsinmintun-Mukden line, and of 2,150,000 yen (219,500l) towards that of the Kilin-Changchun line. The text of this Agreement, which was ratified by the two Governments on the 15th instant, and is supplementary to the Convention of the 15th April, 1907, referred to in Mr. Lowther's despatch No. 95 of the 6th May, 1907, is published in the Japanese \"Official Gazette\" of to-day, and I have the honour to inclose a translation of it herewith. The Agreement, besides dealing with the loan, lays down the mode of appointment, &c., of the Engineer-in-chief and Chief Accountant on the railways in question.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) **CLAUDE M. MACDONALD.**\n\n## Inclosure in No. 1.\n\nExtract from the Japanese \"Official Gazette\" of November 27, 1908.\n\nTHE Supplementary Agreement relating to the Hsinmintun-Mukden and the Kilin-Changchun Railways, signed by the Delegates of Japan and China on the 12th instant, and approved by the two Governments on the 15th instant, is as follows:-\n\nThe Governments of Japan and China recognizing the necessity of supplementing the points determined by the Convention with reference to the Hsinmintun-Mukden and the Kilin-Changchun concluded on the 15th day of the 4th month of the 40th year of Meiji, otherwise the 3rd day of the 3rd month of the 33rd year of Kuang-Hsü (15th April, 1907), before the Contracting Parties of the two countries proceed to draw up the contract of loan for the said lines in pursuance of the provisions of Article 4 of the said Convention, the undersigned have, under instructions, concluded an Agreement supplementary thereto as follows :--\n\n### Article 1.\n\nThe Chinese Government, in accordance with the provisions of Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention regarding the Hsinmintun-Mukden and the Kilin-Changchun Railways (hereinafter called simply the Convention) will borrow from the South Manchurian Railway Company 320,000 yen in Japanese currency, being half the amount of the capital required for the section of the Peking-Mukden Railway east of the Liao River, and 2,150,000 yen in Japanese currency, being half the amount of the capital required for the new construction of the Kilin-Changchun Railway.\n\n### Art. 2.\n\nThe rate of interest on the loan shall be 5 per cent. per annum.\n\n### Art. 3.\n\nThe actual sum received under the loan shall, in accordance with the provisions of Article 6 of the Convention, be 93 for every 100 (yen).\n\n### Art. 4.\n\nIn accordance with the provisions of Article 3 of the Convention, the Chinese Government shall, during the term of the loan, employ a Japanese as Engineer-in-chief on the section of the Peking-Mukden Railway east of the Liao River, and in the first instance shall appoint to the post the Japanese Engineer actually engaged on the Peking-Mukden Railway. As regards his duties, he shall... \n\n*Not printed.*\n\n[2104 b-1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 421371, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 160, "title": "CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "# 158 \n\nThis Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government \n\n**CHINA RAILWAYS.** \n\n**CONFIDENTIAL.** \n\n`[44931]` \n\n## No. 1. \n\n3230 [December 24.] \n\n### SECTION 2. \n\n228 \n\n1.09 \n\n**Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received December 24.)** \n\n**(No. 538. Confidential.)** Sir, \n\nPeking, November 28, 1908. IT was stipulated in the Agreement between China and Japan respecting railways in Manchuria, the text of which was forwarded to you in my despatch No. 185 of the 16th April, 1907, that a supplementary Agreement should be drawn up within six months dealing with points not included in that instrument. \n\nThis supplementary Agreement was signed at Peking on the 12th instant, and I have the honour to inclose a copy of it herewith. \n\nIn accordance with the Memorandum which formed Inclosure I in Sir C. MacDonald's despatch No. 72, Very Confidential, of the 10th April, 1906, the Chinese Government, it will be remembered, agreed to borrow from Japan one-half of the capital required for the construction of a railway between Chiang Ch'un and Kirin, and one-half of the amount needed for the reconstruction of the section of the Hsinmintun-Mukden line east of the Liao River. \n\nThis understanding was confirmed and amplified by the Agreement of the 15th April, 1907, and by the present Contract China undertakes to borrow 2,150,000 yen (say, 238,888l) for the former line, and 320,000 yen (say, 35,555l) for the latter. The issue price is 93 and the interest 5 per cent. per annum. \n\nAs originally stipulated, the Agreement, in the case of the Chang Chun-Kirin Railway, follows the lines of the Chinese Northern Railway Company's loan contract, in so much as the Chief Engineer and Accountant are both to be Japanese subjects appointed in consultation with the South Manchuria Railway Company. \n\nThe arrangement with regard to the section of the Peking-Mukden Railway east of the Liao, which was also, as originally stipulated, to have been modelled upon the loan contract of the Northern Railway, has been modified to meet existing conditions. This section has been worked for some time past practically as a part of the Northern Railway system, and Japanese control has been purely nominal. This is now recognized by the present Agreement, which constitutes a Japanese engineer in the employment of the Northern Railway as Engineer-in-chief and dispenses with the services of a Japanese Accountant on condition that arrangements shall be made for making monthly payments of the amount due for the service of the loan. \n\nA further detailed Agreement regarding the loan is to be negotiated at Mukden between the South Manchuria Railway Company and an officer deputed by the Board of Communications in Peking. \n\nI have, &c. \n(Signed) **J. N. JORDAN.** \n\n## Inclosure in No. 1. \n\n### Supplementary Agreement between China and Japan, dated November 12, 1908. \n\n**(Translation.)** \n\nBY the 4th Article of the Convention between the Japanese and Chinese Governments with reference to the Hsinmiutun-Mukden and Kirin-Ch'ang Ch'un Railways, which was concluded on the 15th April, 1907, it was provided that the two Powers concerned should enter into a Loan Agreement respecting the above two lines; but the Japanese and Chinese Governments proposing, prior to the conclusion of the aforesaid Loan Agreement, to negotiate a supplementary Convention dealing with points not included in the original instrument, the undersigned, having been appointed by their respective Governments, have now concluded the following Articles :- \n\n`[2065 aa--2]`", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 422006, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 35, "title": "CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "## AFFAIRS OF CHINA\n**CONFIDENTIAL**\n\n[11062]\n\n33\n\n[March 18.]\n\nC.O. 12195\n\n## SECTION 2.\n\nIREC\n\nNo. Rec 2 APR OC\n\nthousands of Mongols and made them dependent on Russian money, has now taken another route; and Kiachta itself is a town of the past. On the other hand, the Chinese have now established the first automobile connection through the Gobi between Urga and Kalgan, from where the newly built railway goes to Peking; they will also build with English material a railway from Hsinmintun to Fakumen and probably farther to Mergen. The emigrants that Russia can oppose to the yellow men in these distant provinces can be easily surpassed many times over and at a very slight cost by the Chinese. The colonization of the Selenga Valley on the frontier near Kiachta, which is assisted by the Governor-General of Irkutsk, will only have the effect of a subsequent defensive measure.\n\nFor the comprehension of Chinese politics such events, which generally take place in districts from which reliable news seldom penetrate to the Occident, are not without importance. The strengthening of the great Empire, in the interior and in her colonial districts, increases the zeal of the Chinese diplomats to do all they can to secure the cancellation of certain Treaties that are distasteful to the growing Chinese national feeling.\n\n[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\n### Question asked in the House of Commons, March 18, 1909.\n\nMr. Samuel Roberts,-To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, has His Majesty's Government received official notification of an Agreement between China and Germany providing for the loan to China of £3,000,000 for the purpose of constructing the Hankow-Canton Railway; did China undertake to give Great Britain the right to subscribe the loan on terms equally advantageous to any offer she might receive from foreign countries; and, if so, has China complied with the conditions of the Agreement?\n\n### Answer.\n\nI have nothing to add to the answer given to the hon. Member for Mid-Armagh on the 15th instant, to the effect that negotiations with regard to the loan for this railway are still proceeding, and meanwhile I think it is better not to make any statement on the subject.\n\n[2194 s--2]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 422674, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 77, "title": "CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "# Measures for Railway and Telegraph Development\n\n1. A thorough survey should be made of all projected lines.\n\n2. In the case of railways under official management which are still unfinished, a time limit should be fixed by the Board for their completion. This provision does not include the Tien-tsin-P'u-k'ou, Hankow-Canton, and Szechuan-Hankow lines, which are under the direction of directors-general.\n\n3. As regards railways under commercial management, it will be the duty of the Board to see that they are completed within a reasonable time, and failing this, to make other arrangements.\n\nAnother matter requiring special attention is the question of the repayment of foreign railway loans.\n\nAs regards telegraphs, telephones, &c., many steps have to be taken with a view to improving the service and putting it on a profitable basis.\n\nThe Board then give a list of the measures already carried out and those which they propose to take year by year.\n\n## Measures taken in the 34th year of Kuang Hsü (1908-9)\n\n* Completion of the following lines: Shanghae-Nanking, Mên-t'ou-kou, and a branch line of the Swatow-Ch'ao-chou. The Huang-sha-Ying-tsui section (128 li) of the Hankow-Canton line completed (the whole line has now been transferred to the control of a director-general).\n* Commencement of the Tsitsihar-Angangch'i line.\n* Continuation of the following lines under official management: the Peking-Kalgan, Kaifeng-Honan, Canton-Kowloon, and of the following lines under commercial direction: Shanghae-Chia-hsing, Hangchow-Chiahsing, Wuhu-Kuangte, and Nanchang-Kiukiang.\n* Survey and enquiry into affairs of the Szechuan-Hankow, Honan-Tung-kuan, Hsi-an-T'ung-kuan, Tung-P'u, Kiangsu-Chekiang, Ch'aochou-Swatow, Hsinning, Huichow-Ch'aochou, Kuangsi, Fookien, Yunnan, Szechuan, Anhui, and Kiangsi Railways.\n* Survey of Kirin-Chang-ch'un, Lehang-Kwei-fu, Cheng-Te, and Yen-Ch'ang lines.\n* Repayment of Peking-Hankow Railway loan.\n* Conclusion of arrangement for the annulment of the Canton-Macao agreement, and annulment of the Hanpiac branch line agreement.\n* Redemption of the commercial shares in the telegraph company. Establishment of various new telegraph lines.\n* Arrangements for reducing telegraph rates.\n* Officer sent to the Lisbon Telegraph Congress.\n* Reorganisation of the technical college at Shanghae and arrangements made for establishing a similar college under the Board.\n\n## Measures to be carried out in the 1st year of Hsuan Tung (1909-10)\n\n| Measure | Description |\n| --- | --- |\n| Completion of lines | Kaifeng-Honan, Peking-Kalgan, Hangchow-Chiahsing, Hsinning, and Tsitsihar-Ang-ang-ch'i lines |\n| Arrangement of loan | Kirin-Ch'ang-ch'un Railway |\n| Commencement of lines | Kirin-Chang-ch'un, Szechuen-Hankow (Szechuen section), Honan-Tung-kuan (during this year at least 5,000,000 dollars of capital must be raised and one-third of the construction completed), Ch'ingchiang-Hsuchou, Hangchow-Ningpo, and the Hupei section of the Szechuan-Hankow line |\n| Continuation of lines | Canton-Kowloon and other lines already commenced |\n| Survey | Kalgan-Sui-yuan-ch'ang and Kalgan-Urga lines |\n| Engagement of engineers | Survey of the Kuanghsi and Yunnan railways |\n| Arrangements | Improving the Antung-Mukden line |\n| Survey | Haichow-Ch'ing-chiang and Kaifeng-Hsuchou lines |\n| Reduction of telegraph charges | 20 per cent., involving a total sum of over 600,000 dollars |\n| Establishment of new telegraph lines | Various new telegraph lines and improvement of others |\n| Wireless telegraphs | From Robdo to Sui lai |\n| Arrangements | Establishing a new electrical college |\n| Establishment | Technical college under the Board |\n| Improvement | Telephones in Peking and elsewhere |\n\n## Measures to be carried out in 1910-11\n\n* Arrangements for repayment of the Cheng-Tai Railway Loan in the following year, the total sum required being 40,100,000 fr.\n* Completion of the Nanchang-Kiukiang line. Commencement of the Hsi-an-Tung-kuan Railway.\n* Continuation of the Honan-Tung-kuan line. Capital to the amount of at least 10,000,000 dollars must be raised, and two-thirds of the line completed.\n* Continuation of other lines.\n* Survey of Urga-Kiakhta and Hsinmintun-Tsitsihar-Aihun line.\n* Preparations for establishing several new telegraph lines, including one from Szechuen to Thibet, a distance of over 2,000 li. The cost of the latter line will be met out of the grant for the development of Thibet.\n* Extension of telephones, &c.\n\n## Measures to be carried out in 1911-12\n\n* Repayment of Cheng-Tai Railway Loan.\n* Completion of Ch'ing-chiang, Canton-Kowloon, Nangchow-Ningpo, Changchow-Amoy lines.\n* Continuation of Hsin-Tungkuan line: capital to the amount of at least 2,600,000 taels must be raised, and two-thirds of the line completed.\n* Continuation of other lines, including the Honan-T'ungkuan, for which the full capital must be subscribed this year, and the construction approximately completed.\n* Commencement of the Tung-P'u Railway.\n* Survey of Hsi-an-Lanchow line, and of branch lines on southern railways. Establishment of works for the manufacture of electrical instruments, &c.\n* Various new telegraph lines to be established.\n* Preparations for installing wireless telegraphy along the coast.\n* Improvement and extension of telephone services.\n\n## Measures to be carried out in 1912-13\n\n* Preparations for repaying the Kaifeng-Honan Railway loan, the total sum required being 41,112,500 fr.\n* Completion of Honan-Tungkuan, Kirin-Ch'ang-ch'un, and Wuhu-Kuangte. The Hsi-an-Tung-kuan line must be approximately completed and the total capital subscribed.\n* Continuation of other lines.\n* Survey of Lanchow-Ili line to be continued and surveys to be made of branch lines on southern and northern lines.\n* China to join the International Telegraph Convention. Construction of various new telegraph lines.\n\n## Measures to be carried out in 1913-14\n\n* Preparations for repaying the Shanghae-Nanking Railway loan, a sum of 3,559,931 taels being required in all.\n* Continuation of Szechuan-Hankow and other lines.\n* Survey of branch lines on eastern and western railways.\n* Construction of various new telegraph lines.\n* Extension of works for manufacture of electrical instruments, &c.\n* Extension of telephone systems.\n\n## Measures to be carried out in 1914-15\n\n* Preparations for repaying Tao-Ching Railway loan, a sum of 797,789 taels being required.\n* Repayment of Shanghae-Nanking Railway loan.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 423198, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 601, "title": "CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "## C.O.\n\n| 33552 \n\n**[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government** \n\n`(REGO 12 OCT 09)`\n\n**[B]** \n\n**CHINA RAILWAYS.** \n\n**CONFIDENTIAL.** \n\n| 35075 \n\nNo. 1. \n\n599 \n\nSeptember 20.\n\n## SECTION 1.\n\n**Mr. Rumbold to Sir Edward Grey (Received September 20.)** \n\n**(No. 255. Confidential.)** Sir,\n\nTokyo, August 31, 1909. IN my immediately preceding despatch I had the honour to report that, by the terms of the agreement practically concluded at Peking between the Chinese Government and the Japanese Minister, settling various Manchurian questions, the Chinese Government were to abandon the Hsinmintun-Fakumen Railway project.\n\nMr. Ishii said to-day that the question of reviving this project would probably never arise, as the importance of the Hsinmintun-Fakumen line would be cancelled by the construction of the Cheng-Chow-Taonanfu line, with an extension to Tsitsihar. The latter line, though in some parts 100 miles from the South Manchurian Railway, would be a far greater competitor to that railway than the line between Hsinmintun and Fakumen. But in view of the British interests involved, the Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs said that Japan would be ready to come to an agreement with China as to the construction of the line in question. Mr. Kato's language to you accurately expressed the views of the Japanese Government on this matter.\n\nHaving regard to the statement made above, regarding the serious nature of the competition which the Cheng-Chow-Tsitsihar Railway would set up as regards the South Manchurian Railway, it is difficult to see why the Japanese Government have made a point of the Chinese abandoning the less competitive Hsinmintun-Fakumen line.\n\nMr. Ishii went on to say that he agreed with the Japanese Minister in Peking in thinking that it would be best to await the final conclusion of the Manchurian negotiations before approaching the Chinese Government on the proposed Cheng-Chow-Taonanfu Railway project. His Excellency said that he considered it was China's duty to take the initiative in this question, but did not commit himself as to what Japan's action would be supposing that, as Sir J. Jordan feared, China could not be induced to take the initiative.\n\nMr. Ishii added that the Japanese Minister at Peking had been instructed to consult with His Majesty's Minister on the subject, after the signature of the Manchurian agreement.\n\nI have forwarded a copy of this despatch to Sir John Jordan.\n\n`[2413 --1]`\n\nI have, &c.\n\n**HORACE RUMBOLD.**", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 423321, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 724, "title": "CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "# C. O.\n\n**[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government]**\n14966\n\n## CHINA RAILWAYS\n**CONFIDENTIAL**\n\n[35892]\n\n### No. 1.\n\nREC REG! 25 OCT 09 [September 27.\n\n#### SECTION 1.\n\n722\n\n**(No. 326.)**\nSir,\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received September 27.)\n\nPeking, September 9, 1909.\n\nI HAVE the honour to transmit to you herewith, in translation, copies of two agreements which were signed on the 18th August last between a representative of the Board of Communications and a delegate of the South Manchurian Railway Company in regard to the Kirin-Ch'ang-ch'un and the Hsinmintun-Mukden Railway loans. The arrangements set forth in these documents complete the details which were left unsettled by the agreements of the 15th April, 1907, and 12th November, 1908, copies of which were forwarded to you in my despatches Nos. 185 of the 16th April, 1907, and 538 of the 28th November, 1908.\n\nI have, &c.\n\nJ. N. JORDAN.\n\n### Inclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\n#### Arrangement on Points of Detail relating to the Kirin-Ch'ang-ch'un Railway Loan.\n\n**(Translation.)**\n\nTHE undersigned delegates of the Chinese Board of Posts and Communications (hereinafter called \"the Board of Communications\"), of the one part, and of the South Manchurian Railway Company (hereinafter called \"the company\"), of the other part, appointed in accordance with the convention concerning the Hsinmintun-Mukden and Kirin-Ch'ang-ch'un Railways concluded between the Chinese and Japanese Governments on the 15th April, 1907, and with the supplementary agreement of the 12th November, 1908 (hereinafter called \"the supplementary agreement\") have concluded an arrangement with regard to points of detail relating to the Kirin-Changch'un railway loan. The following are the chief provisions:\n\n##### Article 1.\nIn accordance with article 1 of the supplementary agreement, the company agrees to lend 2,150,000 yen in Japanese currency, being half the amount of the capital required for the construction of the Kirin-Chang-ch'un Railway. The actual sum received under the loan shall be 93 for every 100 yen, and shall be paid in Tokyo to the Chinese Minister, who shall thereupon deliver to the company a receipt in accordance with the form (Form (A)) annexed to this arrangement.\n\n##### Art. 2.\nWithin a month from the date of notifying the Japanese Minister in Peking of the conclusion of this arrangement, the loan funds above specified shall be handed over in full, and in one payment, on a date to be fixed by the Chinese Government, and of which ten days' notice must be given to the company.\n\n##### Art. 3.\nThe term of the loan shall be twenty-five years, and it shall be repaid in forty equal half-yearly instalments. Repayment shall commence in the sixth year from the date of delivery of the loan funds to China. When capital is repaid, the interest thereon shall cease from the date of such repayment.\n\n##### Art. 4.\nInterest shall be calculated from the date of delivery of the loan funds to China, and shall be paid half-yearly, in accordance with the schedule annexed.\n\n##### Art. 5.\nThe director of the Railway Bureau in the Chinese Board of Communications (hereinafter called \"the Railway Bureau\") or the managing director of the Kirin-Ch'ang-ch'un Railway, shall on the due dates pay to the company, either at Dalny or Tokyo, whichever is more convenient for the Chinese Government, the sums due in respect of interest and repayment of capital, and the company shall thereupon deliver to the managing director of the Kirin-Ch'ang-ch'un Railway receipts for the sums paid in respect of principal or interest, in accordance with the annexed Forms (B) and (C).\n\n##### Art. 6.\nTraffic receipts from the Kirin-Chang-ch'un Railway shall be deposited in the branches or agencies of the Yokohama Specie Bank at Kirin or Ch'ang-ch'un...\n\n[2413 dd-1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 423322, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 725, "title": "CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "## Article 6 \nWhere, however, such receipts are in a currency not usually accepted by the said branches or agencies of the Yokohama Specie Bank, and they are in consequence not deposited in the said bank, the company or the bank cannot claim that, in accordance with the 5th section of article 3 of the convention, the full equivalent of such receipts in a currency not usually accepted by the agencies or branches of the bank must be deposited in the bank, and decline to allow the market rate of exchange.\n\nOf the funds deposited in the manner referred to in the preceding paragraph, the balance remaining after meeting expenses in connection with the Kirin-Chang-ch'un Railway shall be retained until the full amount required for the half-yearly payments of interest and amortisation has been deposited. Should any surplus remain it shall be retained until orders are received by the managing director of the Kirin-Chang-ch'un Railway from the director of the railway bureau to pay it over to the Chinese Government.\n\nInterest shall be paid by the bank on funds deposited under the first section of this article, at the rates advertised from time to time by the branch or agency in which such funds are deposited.\n\nThe provisions contained in the above three sections shall remain in force during the fixed period wherein the transaction of this business is to be in the hands of the Yokohama Specie Bank. Should the term of the bank's agency be extended these provisions shall continue in force, and if the term should not be extended then the company shall nominate another bank to act on their behalf in the same manner as before.\n\n## Art. 7 \nAny points with regard to the payment of interest and amortisation of capital not clearly specified in this arrangement can be decided as occasion arises by the railway bureau in consultation with the company.\n\n## Art. 8 \nThis arrangement shall not come into force until ratified by the Governments of both countries.\n\n## Art. 9 \nAfter the signature of this arrangement the director of the railway bureau shall request that it be submitted to the throne, and upon receipt of the Imperial sanction the Wai-wu Pu shall address a formal notification to the Japanese Minister at Peking.\n\n## Art. 10 \nWhen the sums due in respect of interest and amortisation shall have been paid in full this arrangement shall thereupon become null and void.\n\n## Art. 11 \nThis arrangement shall be executed in quadruplicate, one set of the Japanese and Chinese texts being retained by each of the following: the Wai-wu Pu, the railway bureau, the Japanese Minister at Peking, and the company.\n\n## Art. 12 \nShould there be any difference of opinion as to the interpretation of the phraseology of this arrangement the railway bureau and the company shall each nominate an independent person to act as arbitrator. If these arbitrators are unable to arrive at an agreement they shall together elect a third independent person to preside over the arbitration. If the two arbitrators are unable to agree with regard to the choice of a president each shall nominate one person and the choice shall be determined by drawing lots. The three arbitrators shall then consult together and the decision of the majority shall be binding.\n\nHsuan Tung 1st year 7th month 3rd day, Meiji 42nd year 8th month 2nd day (18th August, 1909).\n\nLÜ TAN-HUA, Expectant Prefect, &c., \nDelegate of the Board of Communications.\n\nDelegate of the South Manchurian Railway Company.\n\n3\n\n(Remainder as in the Kirin-Ch'ang-ch'un Railway east of the Liao River arrangement.)\n\n## Article 3 \nThe term of the loan shall be eighteen years, and it shall be repaid in thirty-six equal half-yearly instalments reckoning from the date of delivery of the loan funds to China.\n\n(Remainder as in the Kirin-Ch'ang-ch'un arrangement.)\n\n## Article 6 \nIn accordance with article 5 of the supplementary agreement the monthly instalments of the annual payments in respect of capital and interest shall be deposited, in the form of commercial tacls in the Tien-tsin branch of the Yokohama Specie Bank... (Remainder as in the Kirin-Ch'ang-ch'un arrangement.)\n\n## Inclosure 2 in No. 1 \n### Arrangement on Points of Detail relating to the Hsinmintun-Mukden Railway Loan\n\n(Translation.)\n\n**Agreement**\n\nWITH the exception of the points stated below this arrangement is identical with that regarding the Kirin-Ch'ang-ch'un Railway Loan.\n\n## Article 1 \nIn accordance with Article 1 of the supplementary agreement the company agrees to lend 320,000 yen in Japanese currency, being half the amount of the capital required for the construction of the section of the Hsinmintun-Mukden \n\nPage 723", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 423330, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 733, "title": "CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "# C. C. \n34965 \n**[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]** \n\n## AFFAIRS OF CHINA. \n**(Real 25 OCT 09)** [September 27.] \n\n**CONFIDENTIAL.** \n\n[35899] \n\n### No. 1. \n#### SECTION 5. \n\n## Mr. Rumbold to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received September 27.) \n**(No. 281. Confidential.)** Sir, \n\nTokyo, September 6, 1909. WITH reference to my despatch No. 256, Confidential, of the 31st ultimo, I have the honour to forward to you herewith the text of the two agreements regarding Manchurian questions which were signed at Peking on the 4th instant. This text was communicated to me this afternoon by the Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs. It will be published on the 8th instant, but no other embassy will be informed of it before that date. The Japanese Ambassador in London has been instructed to communicate it to you. \n\nThe first of the two agreements deals with the boundary between China and Corea, the Chientao jurisdiction question, and with the extension to Hairyong of the Kirin-Changchun Railway. \n\nThe second agreement relates to the undertaking given by China regarding the Hsinmintun-Fakumen Railway project and to the Tashichao-Yinkow (port of Newchwang) line. It also deals with the working of the Fushun and Yuentai coal mines as well as of those along the Antung-Mukden Railway, and along the main line of the South Manchurian Railway. The final article of this agreement provides for the extension of the Peking-Mukden Railway to the walls of Mukden. \n\nThe outline of the agreements given me by Mr. Ishii on the 31st ultimo is therefore correct, with the important exception of the passage alluding to the proposed Kirin-Hairyong line, the extension of which to Hairyong is to be constructed on the same terms as the Kirin-Changchun line. These terms are that Japan and China are each to find half the money for the construction of the line, and the chief engineer is to be a Japanese.\n\nThere is no mention in the text of the first agreement of the word \"marts,\" special arrangements within the Japanese consular districts to be formed in Chientao. I understand that these arrangements will be on the lines of that in force in the British concession at Shanghae. \n\nFour places are opened to the residence and trade of foreigners, and safeguards are provided when Coreans under Chinese jurisdiction in Chientao are tried for their lives and on serious civil and criminal charges. \n\nMr. Ishii omitted all mention of the extension of the Peking-Mukden Railway to the walls of Mukden when he gave me an outline of the agreements just signed. \n\nI shall have the honour of forwarding to you in a separate despatch a résumé of the comments of the Japanese press on these agreements. \n\nThe Russian Ambassador spoke to me to-day about the two agreements. He said that he was anxious to see the text, as he was somewhat uneasy about the reported concession obtained by the Japanese Government for the extension of the Kirin-Changchun Railway to Hairyong. I did not inform his Excellency that I was in possession of the text, as I understood that the Japanese Foreign Office did not intend to communicate it to any of the foreign embassies before it was made public. The Russian Ambassador said that he had had an interview with Count Komura on the 1st instant, at which he had asked his Excellency what truth there was in the report that Japan had obtained permission to connect the Kirin-Changchun Railway at Hairyong with a Corean railway. Count Komura replied that the whole line would be Chinese in reality, and said that many years would elapse before the extension would be of any value, as it passed through a poor country. M. Malewsky pointed out that, if such was the case, he could not understand why a stipulation as to the extension of the Kirin-Changchun line in the manner indicated should figure in the agreement. Unnecessary stress would seem to have been laid on this extension. Count Komura twice repeated that the line and its extension would be Chinese, and ...\n\n* Not printed. \n[2418 dd-5] \n731", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 423345, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 748, "title": "CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "**C. O. 766**\n**CHINA RAILWAYS.**\n**CONFIDENTIAL.**\n\n34965 RECE \n(REG: 25 OCT 09)\n\n[September 2.]\n## SECTION 4.\n\n[33083]\n### No. 1.\n**Mr. Rumbold to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received September 2.)**\n**(No. 47.) (Telegraphic.) P.**\n\nCHENGCHOW-TAONANFU-TSITSIHAR Railway. Sir J. Jordan's telegram No. 142 of the 29th August.\n\nTokyo, September 2, 1909.\n\nIn conversation with Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs yesterday, latter informed me that, in view of British interests involved, the Japanese Government would be willing to come to an agreement with China in regard to construction of above-mentioned line, although he added that it would prove a more serious competitor to the South Manchurian Railway than would have been the case with the Hsinmintun-Fakumen line.\n\nInstructions have been sent to Japanese Minister at Peking to consult with Sir J. Jordan on the subject. It was, however, desirable to await the signature of the Sino-Japanese Manchurian agreement before opening the discussion.\n\n`[2413 b-4]`", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 423388, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 791, "title": "CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "## 2\n\ntroubling you with suggestions, but as I cannot but feel alarmed in consequence of the Japanese consul's remarks, I am sending this confidential telegram to your Excellency. If there is really any proposal of the kind, I would earnestly entreat your Excellency to firmly decline to yield. It would be preferable to make some other concession to them in its place. If there are no grounds whatever for these apprehensions of mine, there is nothing more to be said.\n\n## (2.)\n\nWai-wu Pu to Viceroy.\n\nYour telegram No. with reference to the Kirin-Huining Railway.\n\nMr. Ijuin quotes the second section of article 3 of the Kirin-Chang-ch'un convention, which provides that any branch-lines or extensions of the Kirin-Ch'ang-ch'un railway, which may subsequently be constructed shall be managed by China, and that if China has not sufficient funds for their construction she shall obtain them from the South Manchurian Railway Company, and he presses for an arrangement similar to that for the Kirin-Ch'ang-ch'un loan. Mr. Ijuin also states that although no immediate action is to be taken it is essential that a declaration to this effect should be made beforehand. This Board urged that the funds should be provided by China herself, but the Japanese Minister persists in declining to agree, and unless this point is settled the Yen-chi (boundary) negotiations cannot be continued. After carefully weighing the considerations on both sides we have decided that we cannot endanger the whole situation by again breaking off the negotiations and have accordingly arranged with him to follow the same course as in the case of the Kirin-Ch'ang-ch'un line, and borrow half the amount required. The line will be built by us, the control will be in our hands, and it will not be a Japanese railway. After long consideration we have come to the conclusion that this is the only course possible.\n\n## (3.)\n\nGovernor of Kirin to Wai-wu Pu.\n\nI have just received a telegram from his Excellency Hsi-liang informing me that the Yen-chi boundary question is approaching a settlement, but that there are rumours that your Excellencies have agreed to the construction of a line from Huining to Kirin on the terms of the Kirin-Chang-ch'un convention, and to borrow half the amount required from Japan. I fully realise the difficult position in which the Board is placed, and the necessity for taking into account every aspect of the situation, but knowing as I do the special importance of the boundary question to this province, and conscious of the extreme gravity of the present position of affairs, I feel it my duty to submit my views to your Excellencies, and I trust that you will pardon me for doing so.\n\nThe Japanese perceived from the first that the question of the boundary between China and Corea gave them an opportunity, and their first project was to take forcible possession of our territory; subsequently, when they had established communications by water with Ching Ching and built a railway to connect it with Huining they secured for themselves the still greater advantages conferred by the Kirin-Chang-ch'un convention. They then perceived that by getting possession of the Kirin-Huining Railway also they would secure much greater advantages than by forcibly occupying a piece of our land, and accordingly changed their tactics and declared that the construction of railways was the only means of settling the boundary question. The frontier question, however, has nothing whatever to do with the construction of railways, and however great concessions should be made to them, they should only be in matters connected with the boundary, such as the opening of ports or the right of affording protection to the Coreans. Even if it is necessary to make some great concession to them in return for their services it would be better to hand over the 100 li or so of land to them altogether so as to avoid trouble in the future.\n\nAs regards the 3rd article of the Kirin-Chang-ch'un convention, this concerns the construction of branch lines, but a line nearly 1,000 li in length from Kirin to Huining must be regarded as another trunk line, and has nothing to do with this article. The Kirin-Chang-ch'un convention was agreed to by us in order to secure the redemption of the Hsinmintun-Chang-ch'un line, which had been seized by the Japanese, and there was therefore some reason for making it; but in the present case we have not accepted the delimitation of the boundary as claimed by the Japanese, and if, in return for the settlement of the boundary question, we surrender these important rights to Japan, our loss will be out of all proportion to our gain. Besides, even now Kirin only preserves its existence because the South Manchurian Railway only reaches Chang-ch'un and Kirin, and, for lack of communications, the Japanese are unable to put their plans fully into effect. If this line is built, and the Japanese have the rights conferred by a loan agreement, then, with their railways from Dalny and Antung, they will completely surround the two provinces of Kirin and Fengtien. They will then be in a position to increase their demands to furnish loans for the construction of branch lines to the Kirin-Chang-ch'un and Kirin-Huining Railways, their settlers and traders will pour into Kirin, and there will be no limit to the pressure which they will be able to put upon us. Furthermore, if this line is constructed, the Japanese and their goods can reach Kirin by way of Ch'ing-ching and Huining in a day, and they will thereby secure much greater advantages than would accrue from the opening of ports in Yen-chi, whilst our ruin will be brought about all the quicker.\n\nThis, however, is only the least of the dangers to be feared. The Russians are daily becoming more eager to revenge themselves on the Japanese. Since Vladivostock was made a naval harbour, the number of troops has been vastly increased, and munitions of war have been coming out incessantly by the Siberian Railway. The intention of the Russians is to avenge their defeat within a few years and to make the province of Kirin the battle-ground. The Japanese realise this, and are making Yen-chi a base for their operations against Russia. If, however, Russia is to have access to Kirin by the Chinese Eastern Railway whilst Japan is hampered by lack of communications, the latter will be at a disadvantage, and Japan has accordingly changed her tactics from attempting to forcibly occupy Yen-chi to a demand for this railway, whereby she will be able in the event of trouble to occupy Kirin before the Russians. This matter is of the most vital importance to Russia, and she has been closely watching the progress of the boundary negotiations. It is hardly likely that she will acquiesce in the present arrangement, and she will probably make it a pretext for demanding corresponding concessions, and it is greatly to be feared that the rival ambitions of the two countries will hasten the advent of hostilities and involve us in the most dreadful calamities.\n\nHowever worthless my views on the situation may be, the facts are obvious, and I cannot but feel the utmost alarm. There is, too, another point. The Kirin-Ch'ang-ch'un convention excited great opposition amongst the people of this province, and the agitation against it was continued for almost a year. Upon my arrival here I did my best to put a stop to the agitation, and finally succeeded in bringing about peace, although the people were still dissatisfied. If this Kirin-Huining agreement is signed, the people will be still more roused to opposition, and there will be grave reasons for anxiety. I now hear that, although the matter has been decided, the agreement has not yet been signed, and if your Excellencies will fight the case strongly it may still be possible to save the situation and secure some modification of the terms.\n\n## (4.)\n\nGovernor of Kirin to Viceroy of Manchuria.\n\nOn receipt of your Excellency's telegram I telegraphed to the Wai-wu Pu urging them to fight the case strongly, and also sent you a reply. I now hear that, in addition to the arrangement for the joint working of the Kirin-Huining Railway, five ports are to be opened, the Japanese have the right to protect the Coreans, mixed courts are to be established, Japanese are permitted to carry on business as before in Yen-chi, and this provision includes the working of the Tien Pao Shan mines; we have agreed that no parallel line shall be constructed west of the Liao River, and we have also given them the right to build a railway from Tashinichiao to Yingk'ou. It is commonly rumoured that the agreement has already been signed. I cannot but feel the utmost indignation at this news.\n\n`[2462 1-7]`", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 428121, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-371 - Public Offices - 1910", "page_number": 46, "title": "CO129-371 - Public Offices - 1910", "content_text": "[B]\n\n[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government]\n\nCHINA RAILWAYS.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[47078]\n\nNo. 1.\n\n[January 3.]\n\nSECTION 2.\n\n45\n\nYour Excellency,\n\nSir Edward Grey to Count Benckendorff.\n\nForeign Office, January 3, 1910.\n\nI HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of the memorandum left here by M. Etter on the 28th ultimo, stating that the United States Ambassador at St. Petersburgh had handed M. Isvolsky a note of certain proposals, with a view to preserving the undisturbed enjoyment by China of all political rights in Manchuria, and to promoting the development of the province under a practical application of the policy of the open door and equal commercial opportunity.\n\nThe United States Government were further of opinion that, should the above suggestion not be found feasible in its entirety, the desired end would be attained by the Powers in favour of the principle of the commercial neutralisation of Manchuria adhering to the agreement established between the United States, Great Britain, and China to carry out in common the construction of a line from Chenchow to Aigun, and of other lines, the construction of which would become necessary as a result of the commercial development of Manchuria.\n\nAs some misunderstanding appears to exist in regard to the attitude of His Majesty's Government towards this latter project, I have the honour to bring the following facts to your Excellency's notice:--\n\nSome time ago I was approached by a British firm with a request that I should overcome the opposition which they implied the Japanese Government were making to a proposed railway from Sinmingting to Fakumen, which, it was alleged, would compete with the South Manchurian Railway. The proposal for this line has, as your Excellency is no doubt aware, been put on one side for the moment.\n\nAt the time I took up the position that it would be unreasonable and contrary to the policy of the open door if the Japanese Government were to oppose all railway enterprise in Manchuria and to claim a monopoly for their own railway; on the other hand, I frankly admitted that it was reasonable that they should in their discussions with the Chinese Government stipulate for proper safeguards against undue competition by the building of new railways in Southern Manchuria.\n\nThe United States Ambassador in London informed me in October last that his Government were anxious to see the so-called Hukuan loan for the building of a line from the Yang-tsze to Szechuan concluded, as an American and British group were negotiating with the Chinese Government for the construction of a railway from Chenchow to Aigun via Tsitsihar, which could not be proceeded with until the Hukuan question was settled.\n\nThe British group in question, which turned out to be the one interested in the Sinmingting-Fakumen scheme, approached this Department on the subject at about the same time.\n\nI told his Excellency that I was glad that American and British enterprise should be engaged together in the Far East, but that I had not so far taken any action in connection with the undertaking in question, and went on to explain what had passed unofficially between myself and the Japanese Ambassador with regard to railways in Manchuria. M. Kato had informed me that in the opinion of the Japanese Government the Tsitsihar line would probably be prejudicial to the South Manchurian Railway, as it might tap the through traffic and thus starve their line. They had, however, admitted that they could not oppose the project in principle, but would ask for participation in it.\n\nThe United States Ambassador has recently made proposals to me of a similar character to those now made to the Russian Government. My reply was to the effect that the general principle involved in the larger scheme, that is to say, the bringing of the Manchurian highways and the railroad under an impartial administration by some plan vesting in China the ownership of the railroads through funds furnished for the\n\n[2581 -2]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-371 - Public Offices - 1910.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 489001, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-470 - Public Offices - 1921", "page_number": 149, "title": "CO129-470 - Public Offices - 1921", "content_text": "## (h) Railway Loans—\n\n| Railway | Balance outstanding December 30, 1918 (£) |\n| --- | --- |\n| British: Peking-Mukden Railway | 1,400,000 |\n| Anglo-French: Peking-Hankow Railway | 4,750,000 |\n| Russo-Chinese: Chengting-Taiyan Railway | 1,200,000 |\n| British: Taokow-Chinghna Railway | 560,000 |\n| Franco-Belgian: Lung-Hai Railway | 5,000,000 |\n| Anglo-German: Tien-tsin-Pukow Railway | 7,750,000 |\n| British: Shanghai-Nanking Railway | 2,900,000 |\n| British: Shanghai-Hangchow-Ningpo Railway | 1,425,000 |\n| Anglo-American-Franco-German: Hukuang Railways | 6,000,000 |\n| British: Canton-Kowloon Railways | 1,500,000 |\n| **Total** | **32,485,000** |\n\n| Category | Amount (£) |\n| --- | --- |\n| British sole interests | 7,885,000 |\n| British joint interests | 18,500,000 |\n\nThe above figures are given by Mr. S. F. Mayers in his memorandum (`Confidential Print 38784` of the 11th March, 1919).\n\nTo these may be added--\n| Railway | Amount (£) |\n| --- | --- |\n| British: Taokow-Chinghua Railway | 800,000 |\n| British: Sinyang-Pukow Railway | 3,000,000 |\n| **Total** | **3,800,000** |\n\nand the following Japanese railway loans (see `\"China Year Book, 1919-1920'`): \n| Railway | Amount (£) |\n| --- | --- |\n| Kirin-Changchun Railway | 215,000 |\n| Hsinmintun-Mukden Railway | 21,000 |\n| Kirin-Hueining Railway | 1,000,000 |\n| Peking-Hankow Railway | 500,000 |\n| Nanchang-Kiukiang Railway | 500,000 |\n| Ssupingkai-Chengchiatun Railway | 230,000 |\n| Nanchang-Kiukiang Railway | 650,000 |\n| Kirin-Changchun Railway | 53,000 |\n| Ssupingkai-Chengchiatun Railway | 260,000 |\n| Kirin-Changchun Railway | 1,000,000 |\n| ?Peking-Suiyuan Railway | 300,000 |\n| **Total** | **4,439,000** |\n\nSir J. Jordan, in his despatch No. 353 of the 25th July, 1918, gives the Kirin-Hueining loan as £2,000,000. In his despatch No. 546 of the 16th December, 1918, he adds--\n- Four Manchurian Railways (Japanese)\n- Two railways in Shantung on which £4,000,000 were advanced on the 22nd November, 1919.\n\n## (c) General Loans—\n\n| Loan | Amount (£) |\n| --- | --- |\n| British: Birch, Crisp and Co. | 5,000,000 |\n| Consortium: First Reorganisation Loan | 25,000,000 |\n| Consortium: Second Reorganisation Loan | 1,000,000 |\n| First advance (Japanese) | 1,000,000 |\n| Second advance (Japanese) | 1,000,000 |\n| Third advance (Japanese) | 1,000,000 |\n| Franco-Belgian Government Gold Loan, 1914 | 4,000,000 |\n| American-Japanese Grand Canal Loan | 1,200,000 |\n| American Wine and Tobacco Loan | 6,000,000 |\n| **Total** | **44,200,000** |\n\nTo these should be added the Anglo-Danish Telegraph Company's Loan (Eastern Extension Company and Great Northern Telegraph Company), 1911, of £5,000,000 of which the balance outstanding on the 31st December, 1918, was £458,336, and the numerous Japanese loans. A list of these is given in Sir J. Jordan's despatch No. 353 of the 25th July, 1918. These amount to the total of £24,810,000, of which £19,843,000 have been contracted since the war. They include the railway loans mentioned above, and the advances to the Second Reorganisation Loan. Besides these the principal loans are:\n\n| Loan | Amount (£) |\n| --- | --- |\n| Loans (1903-1913) to the Han-Yeh-Ping Company | 3,200,000 |\n| Asiatic Development Company Loan, 1915 | 500,000 |\n| Loan to Bank of Communications, 1917 | 500,000 |\n| Chibli Flood Loan, 1917 | 500,000 |\n| Grand Canal Loan (see above): Japanese share, 1917 | 500,000 |\n| Taihei Kumiai Arms Loan, 1918 | 1,400,000 |\n| Loan to Bank of Communications, 1918 | 2,000,000 |\n| Telegraph Administration Loan, 1918 | 2,000,000 |\n| Kirin-Heilungchiang Forest Loan, 1918 | 3,000,000 |\n\nThe Annual Report on China for 1919 states that in 1917-1918 the Central Government borrowed between £20,000,000 and £30,000,000 from Japan. The most recent borrowings have been:\n| Loan | Amount (£) |\n| --- | --- |\n| 1920 advance by Japanese Banks | 900,000 |\n| Marconi Wireless Loan (British) | 600,000 |\n| Vickers' Aeroplane Loan (British) | 1,800,000 |", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-470 - Public Offices - 1921.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 490238, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-471 - Public Offices - 1921", "page_number": 729, "title": "CO129-471 - Public Offices - 1921", "content_text": "# APPENDIX IX.\n## Loans.\n\n### Balance outstanding December 30, 1918.\n\n**(a.) Sino-Japanese War Indemnity Loans**\n\n| Year | Loan Details | Amount |\n|------|--------------|--------|\n| 1895 | Franco-Russian Government Loan of 400,000,000 fr. | 8,350,558 |\n| 1896, 1898 | Anglo-German Government Loan of £16,000,000 | 12,385,000 |\n| | | 9,571,500 |\n\n**(b.) Railway Loans—**\n\n| Railway Details | Amount |\n|-----------------|--------|\n| British Peking Mukden Railway | 1,400,000 |\n| Anglo-French: Peking Hankow Railway | 4,750,000 |\n| Russo-Chinese: Chengting-Taiyan Railway | 1,200,000 |\n| British Taokow-Chinghua Railway | 560,000 |\n| Franco-Belgian: Lung-Hai Railway | 5,000,000 |\n| Anglo-German Tientsin-Pukow Railway | 7,750,000 |\n| British Shanghai-Nanking Railway | 2,900,000 |\n| British Shanghai-Hangchow-Ningpo Railway | 1,425,000 |\n| Anglo-American-Franco-German: Hukuang Railways | 6,000,000 |\n| British Canton-Kowloon Railways | 1,500,000 |\n| **Total** | **32,485,000** |\n| British sole interests | 7,885,000 |\n| British joint interests | 18,500,000 |\n\nThe above figures are given by Mr. S. F. Mayers in his memorandum (`Confidential Print 38784` of the 11th March, 1919).\n\nTo these may be added:\n- British Taokow-Chinghua Railway: 800,000\n- ...: 3,000,000\n- **Total**: 3,800,000\n\n**(c.) General Loans—**\n\n### Balance outstanding December 30, 1918.\n\n| Loan Details | Amount |\n|--------------|--------|\n| British Birch, Crisp and Co. | ... |\n| Consortium First Reorganisation Loan | 5,000,000 |\n| Consortium: Second Reorganisation Loan | 25,000,000 |\n| First advance (Japanese) | 1,000,000 |\n| Second advance (Japanese) | 1,000,000 |\n| Third advance (Japanese) | 1,000,000 |\n| Franco-Belgian Government Gold Loan, 1914 | 4,000,000 |\n| American-Japanese Grand Canal Loan | 1,200,000 |\n| American Wine and Tobacco Loan | 6,000,000 |\n| **Total** | **44,200,000** |\n\nTo these should be added the Anglo-Danish Telegraph Company's Loan (Eastern Extension Company and Great Northern Telegraph Company), 1911, of £5,000,000, of which the balance outstanding on the 31st December, 1918, was £458,336, and the numerous Japanese loans. A list of these is given in Sir J. Jordan's despatch No. `353` of the 25th July, 1918. These amount to the total of $24,810,000, of which €19,943,000 have been contracted since the war. They include the railway loans mentioned above, and the advances to the Second Reorganisation Loan. Besides these, the principal Japanese loans are:\n\n| Loan Details | Amount |\n|--------------|--------|\n| Loans (1903-1913) to the Hanyehping Company | 3,200,000 |\n| Asiatic Development Company Loan, 1915 | 500,000 |\n| Loan to Bank of Communications, 1917 | 500,000 |\n| Chibli Flood Loan, 1917 | 500,000 |\n| Grand Canal Loan (see above): Japanese share, 1917 | 500,000 |\n| Taihei Kumiai Arms Loan, 1918 | 1,400,000 |\n| Loan to Bank of Communications, 1918 | 2,000,000 |\n| Telegraph Administration Loan, 1918 | 2,000,000 |\n| Kirin-Heilungchiang Forest Loan, 1918 | 8,000,000 |\n| **Total** | ... |\n\nand the following Japanese railway loans (see `China Year Book, 1919-1920`):\n \n| Railway Details | Amount |\n|-----------------|--------|\n| Kirin-Changchun Railway | 215,000 |\n| Hsinmintun-Mukden Railway | 21,000 |\n| Peking-Hankow Railway | 1,000,000 |\n| Nanchang-Kiukiang Railway | 500,000 |\n| Ssupingkai-Chengchiatun Railway | 500,000 |\n| Ssupingkai-Chengchiatun Railway | 230,000 |\n| Nanchang-Kiukiang Railway | 650,000 |\n| Kirin-Changchun Railway | 63,000 |\n| Kirin Changchun Railway | 260,000 |\n| Kirin-Hueining Railway | 1,000,000 |\n| Peking-Suiyuan Railway | 4,439,000 |\n| British Sinyang-Pukow Railway | 300,000 |\n| **Total** | ... |\n\nSir J. Jordan, in his despatch No. `353` of the 25th July, 1918, gives the Kirin-Hueining loan as £2,000,000. In his despatch No. `546` of the 16th December, 1918, he adds:\n- Four Manchurian Railways (Japanese): £15,000,000\n- Two railways in Shantung: £7,000,000\n- On which £4,000,000 were advanced on the 22nd November, 1919: £22,000,000\n\nThe Annual Report on China for 1919 states that in 1917-1918 the Central Government borrowed between £20,000,000 and £30,000,000 from Japan. The most recent borrowings have been:\n- 1920 advance by Japanese Banks: 900,000\n- Marconi Wireless Loan (British): 600,000\n- Vickers Aeroplane Loan (British): 1,800,000\n\nThe general loans offered for pooling in the New Consortium, the 13th October, 1920, were:\n- By the British, French, and Japanese groups: Reorganisation Loan, 1913, further loan.\n- By the British and French groups: Currency Reform and Industrial Development Loan, 1911.\n- By the American group:\n - Grand Canal Improvement Contract, 1917.\n - Continental and Commercial Trust and Savings Bank Loan, 1919.\n - Pacific Development Corporation Loan, 1919.\n\nFor Railway Loans similarly offered for pooling see `Appendix IV`. \n\n## Page 727", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-471 - Public Offices - 1921.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 505415, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-497 - Public Offices - 1926", "page_number": 137, "title": "CO129-497 - Public Offices - 1926", "content_text": "134\n\n6\n\npost. It seems to have been his ambition to establish under his own leadership a Government for the provinces of South China on a federal basis. Neither his claim to the post of Vice-Generalissimo nor his federal policy was acceptable to the Government at Canton, and when his troops, under General Lung Yun, entered Kuangsi from the west and occupied Lungchow, Nanning and Poseh, General Fan Shih-sheng, a native of Yunnan Province, but a bitter enemy of Tang Chi-yao, persuaded the Canton Government to allow him to lead his troops into Kuangsi to oppose T'ang's advance. This he effectively did, the Yunnanese forces being compelled, after a severe defeat early in June, to retreat to their native province, into which they were pursued by General Fan's forces, who, advancing by way of Poseh, succeeded in cutting the railway to Yunnan-fu. General Tang Chi-yao made preparations to escape from Yunnan-fu by aeroplane, when, on the 20th and 21st August, his troops inflicted a defeat on their adversaries in the south-east of the province, and forced them to retreat into Kuangsi.\n\n14. At Canton itself strained relations between the local government and the Yunnan-Kwangsi commanders in the city led to fighting during May and June, which ended in the defeat on the 12th June of the Yunnanese troops, who were subjected during the next few weeks to the most brutal treatment by the infuriated populace of Canton.\n\n15. Freed from internal dissension, the Cantonese now turned eagerly to join in the anti-British agitation, which had gathered fresh impetus after the riot at Hankow on the 11th June. An account of the development of that movement at Canton, which culminated in the incident referred to ever since in the Chinese press as the Shakee massacre, will be found in this report in the section dealing with the repercussion in Canton of the Shanghai incident of the 30th May.\n\n16. A new Government, known as the \"Nationalist Government,\" was organised at Canton in July, but was dominated by M. Borodin and other Russian advisers, and by the Strike Committee. On the 20th August, Liao Chung-kai, one of the chief members of the executive committee, chief of the Labour Department of the Kuomintang, and for some time in 1924 Civil Governor of Kwangtung, who was the real power behind the strike, was murdered. The Government was disintegrated, and a coup d'Etat on the 25th August transferred in effect the executive power to two men, General Chiang Chung-sheng (Chiang Kai-shek), commander of the Whampoa Military Academy and garrison commissioner of Canton, and his civil coadjutor, Wang Ching-wei. A series of arrests followed of prominent adherents of the Kuomintang who were thought to be wavering in their allegiance. General Hsu Chung-chih, who had already announced his resignation from the post of Commander-in-chief of the Canton army, fled at the end of September to Shanghai, just in time to escape arrest. A \"mandate\" issued on the 20th September by three commissioners, Messrs. C. C. Wu, Wang Ching-wei and Tan Yen-k'ai, announced that the command of the Canton army had been given to General Chiang Kai-shek. General Hu Han-min, who had succeeded Sun Yat-sen as chief of the Kuomintang and head of the Canton Government, was suspected of complicity in the murder of Liao Chung-kai, and surrendered himself to General Chiang Kai-shek. After a harassing trial by a military court, nothing definite appears to have been proved against him, and, in consideration of his long services in the cause of the Kuomintang, he was permitted to proceed, virtually as a prisoner, on a special mission to Russia via Vladivostok, accompanied by the secretary of the Canton Military Council and two cadets of the Whampoa Military Academy. He was given an effusive welcome at Vladivostok and at Moscow. The alleged object of his visit was to see Soviet Russia and to judge for himself the advisability of introducing communistic methods into China.\n\n17. General Ch'en Ch'iung-ming's second campaign against Canton was launched in September, in the form of an attack on Chaochow and Swatow. Swatow was captured on the 18th September, much to the relief of the foreign, and especially of the British, residents of that port, who had for several months been enduring the dictatorship of the worst elements in a violently hostile population. Unfortunately General Ch'en's campaign very soon showed signs of collapse. Lack of funds, bad leadership (General Ch'en himself never left Hong Kong) and bad organisation led to the complete defeat of the anti-Canton party. Waichow was taken by the Whampoa cadets under General Chiang Kai-shek on the 14th October, and, after a steady advance, Swatow was reoccupied by the Canton troops on the 6th November. By the end of the year the whole of Kwangtung was under the control of the Government at Canton.\n\n7\n\nWest China.\n\n18. In Szechuan the chief political event during the year was the defeat in August of General Yang Sen (a former adherent of Wu Pei-fu) by a strong combination of generals headed by Liu Hsiang. General Yang had been confirmed by a presidential mandate (the 7th February) in his appointment as Tupan, or Military Governor, of the province, and his régime was generally regarded as one of the best seen in Szechuan for many years. However, the civil war which has harassed this province for so long was renewed in April, the bone of contention being the control of the salt revenues at Tzuliutsing. General Yang gained the upper hand in the struggle, and obtained military control of the province west of a line drawn north from Luchow, on the Yang-tsze. The opposing forces were confined to a small area round Chungking, when an armistice was called by General Liu Hsiang, and a conference of generals was held at Chungking to attempt to settle the future government of the province. The conference failed, and hostilities broke out again in the middle of July, which ended in the defeat of General Yang, who was forced to abandon Chengtu and finally to leave the province. The defeat appears to have been mainly due to the defection of his generals. Another military conference was called, which came to an end on the 30th August, and at which the district monthly salt revenues were apportioned among eight or nine generals. This was followed by a second conference in December to arrange for the provincial administration and to discuss ways and means of raising funds. By the end of the month some 150 delegates had arrived, but up to that time the conference had been mainly occupied in settling the rule of procedure.\n\n19. Civil War.\n\nWhen Shanghai was occupied by General Sun Ch'uan-fang's troops on the 16th October, General Yang Yu-t'ing received telegraphic orders from Mukden to retreat. A remarkable collapse of the Fengtien forces followed, and in the short space of two and a half months Marshal Chang Tso-lin, though he still held Mukden and part of the Peking-Mukden Railway, had lost Kiangsu, Anhui and Chihli provinces, as well as the Jehol district. Deserted by one of his most trusted generals, Kuo Sung-lin, commanding the 9th Division at Luanchow (on the Peking-Mukden Railway), who went over to the enemy with some 40,000 troops and advanced along the railway towards Mukden, Marshal Chang was contemplating taking refuge in flight and abandoning Manchuria to his rival. He was induced, nevertheless, to make a last and desperate effort to save the position. On the 23rd December the troops loyal to him met those under Kuo Sung-lin near Hsinmintun, by the Liao River, in a short and decisive engagement. The stake at issue was the future control of Manchuria. Thanks to a bold stroke by the general commanding Marshal Chang's cavalry, who succeeded in getting behind General Kuo's forces and attacking them in the rear, the latter were defeated, and Kuo himself was captured and executed. Whilst this struggle was proceeding, in favour of the Fengtien forces, Tien-tsin, which had been held for some weeks for Chang by General Li Ching-lin against the advance of the Kuomin army from three sides, was captured by the latter, and General Li had to retreat southwards with his troops. In Shantung, the Fengtien Military Governor, General Chang Tsung-chang, succeeded in holding at bay the forces threatening to attack Tsinan-fu from the south, while in the north of the province a struggle with the Kuomin troops for the possession of Tehchow, on the Tien-tsin-Pukow Railway, left that place in his hands. The end of the year saw the formation at Peking of a new Cabinet, composed chiefly of moderate Kuomintang elements under the premiership of Mr. Hsu Shih-ying (see annual report, 1922, \"Who's Who,\" No. 7). General Sun Yüeh, Military Governor of Shensi, was appointed Military Governor of Chihli (the 25th December). Marshal Feng Yü-hsiang resigned his post of Tupan of North-West Frontier Defence and Tupan of Kansu, these posts being given to two of his own generals. Shansi, which had kept out of the civil war, remained under the governorship of General Yen Hsi-shan. Shantung was still held by General Chang Tsung-chang. The Central Government, recognising a fait accompli, appointed General Sun Chuan-fang Military Governor of Kiangsu (the 26th November), but he refused to accept the title and continued to style himself the Commander-in-chief of the Five Allied Provinces (Kiangsu, Anhui, Kiangsi, Fukien and Chekiang). He was at the time Military Governor of Chekiang Province. In Anhui, General Teng Ju-cho, commanding the allied Kiangsi troops, showed an inclination to accept from the Government at Peking the title of Tupan of Anhui.\n\n[1500]\n\nB 4\n\nrade", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-497 - Public Offices - 1926.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 } ]