1914-03-10 — Page 6

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THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH.

EXTRA

HONGKONG, TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 1914.

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INTERNATIONAL INTRI- vince of Szechuan. The Ta- the great dream of Russia essential to get as the official official German Banking Syn-The Claim for Official Honours. creditably, and with absolute faith It is clearly evident from the in ita patriotiem and loyalty to GUES IN CHINESE Cheng line the Chinese have call- for a through trank line from the instrument for the execution of dicate for mutual participation in

railway above communication, that the British interests, the British RAILWAYS.

ed it. It menos in Chinese, the Foth of China to the South in the concessions extracted from administrative "Great Achievement," a phrase Indo-China. The French railway the Chinese Government. Pre loans to China. With the sud- Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Government extended to the now possessed of considerable irony from Haiphong, the French port vious to 1898 no cerious den change in the situation Corporation, and the commercial combination a moly of its Belgium, French, and Russia

when regarded from the Russian of Indo-China now terminates at attempt had been made by the caused by the Russian concern of Jardine, Matheson & official support, and discouraged Railway Policles in China.

point of view.

Yunnanin, the capital of the rich European Powers to secure advance, and the creation of Co., bombined to organize the all competition by other re- The "Great Achievement "Province of Yannan, and the railway or industrial concessions the "spheres of influence," representative British Corpora-ponsible British railway builders.

a gap of a few in China as purely national combined with The article which follows in was signed by M. de. Vos on right to bridge

From time to time other British the keen tiou, and solicited the support of taken from the Far Eastern behalf of the Societe Generals de hundred miles between Yannan-undertakings in pursuit of politi-struggle for railway concessions the British Government on the railway constructors endeavoured a footing in Olins, Review. It will be read Belgique, the important Belgian fu and Chungking, or Chengtu, cal designs, but the onblushing to develop and strengthen the strength of ite purely British to eauro with interest only for financial institution which is the capital of Rzeobusa; had sale of the country's rights to special intereste of the various character. As the first top to but were compelled to retire the wealth. of infor allied with the greater 'Societe alone to be secured to permit Russia by Li Hung chang, com- Powers in their respective nesuring this official support, the after severe fioancial losses; and mati'n it containe but also Generale of Paris. There can be plans baing made for the final pelled the other nations to enter spheres, came the urgent demand Bank was compelled to terminate leave the field to the audie as an example of enterprieing no doubt of its financial strength, consummation of the magnificent the field to protect their own for the organization of purely its working arrangement with puted control of the official journalism. Our readers and its position as the leading scheme. Russia was debarred interests.

national institutions to execute in the official Garman Sradicato, to commercial organisation. Al cannot fail to appreciate the Belgian Bank, but when we from openly competing because The leading British fanacial the respective spheres.

enable it to enter the field free though reputable British con immense amount of labour again scan the names of the Banks of her onderstanding with Britain institution in China (The Hong- The Hongkong and Shangbai from an alliance which would have tractors who have successfully and research which must composing the Official Russian in the Scott-Muravieff treaty, and kong and Shanghai Banking Binking Corp ration fore been instantly challenged by constructed thousands of miles of have been entailed in the Group, wo find the name of the Belgium had already done all Corporation), having on ite Board seeing the great advantages and other legitimate British concerns, railways in other parts of the collection of the facts here Societe Generals de Belgique, that she could safely do without of Direitors the principal partners profits to be derived as the repre- The British Government, as a world, have at various times given. In the two previons with its subsidiaries the Sino- arousing suspicion, so the task of of the great German-trading firms, sentative British organization for result of the above assurances, ffered to build railways for the Issues the Pukow-Hankow Belgian Bank and the Banque completing the scheme of the had up to this time been operating the railway development of Bri. evidently gave its undivided Chinese Government at lomp concession and

"the d'Outremer.

Allies now devolved upon France, under an agreement with the tieb policy, terminated ibeiz work-upport to the propoead Corpora-sum contract prices 25 to 33 per Canton Hankow railway

If the Societe Generale dewith her powerful financial and

ing arrangement with the strong tion as the exculsive fiancial cent, under the prevailing costs of intrigue" were discussed Belgique is a purely Belgian political prestige to insure

official Garman Syndicate, and on nstrument for the execution of departmentally built lines, they among other matiters.}

enterprise, what is its name doing success.

*British and German Agree- April 4, 1808, addressed a notet of all railway and other conces have been systematically opposed in the Official Fussian Group? To appreciate fully the actual mentre. Railway Construction in to the British Foreign Office to slons extracted from China under and driven from the field. The Belgian Representation in

It is well known that the Societe situation, we must again return China-Minutes of Meeting held the following effect:-

diplomatic pressure. The main Chinese Government, who had to 31 Tombard Street, London, fact that is clearly established by pay the bills, and who would When the Lung-Taing-U-lai Generale de Paris is largely to 1898 during the fierce "Battle at Now Court, St. Swithen's Lane,

the above letter, is that the have profited by having its rail- Loan Agreement was signed by interested in the Belgian concern of Concessions" waged for the London, on the 1st and 2nd April 4, 1898.

Sic-

British Corporation was com-ways onstructed more economi-, M. de Voe, on behalf of the Cie of the same name, and if their control of China through the September, 1898,

Great Generale de Chemins de Fer interest is in the same proportion medium of railways.

Present-Representing the I have the honour to acquaint pelled to free itself from its cally and expeditiously, was the official forced to, sit still and meekly et de Tramways en Chine, he was as similar combinations, and if Britain's open policy was to obtaia

German Syndicate M.A, von you that the arrangement under Association from particular to atate in the agree.the Russians have also a share in control of the great Yangize

Hansemann. Representing the which this bank hitherto worked German Syndicate, before it acquiesce in the system. The ment that the syndicate was the loan, it would appear that the Valley and the trade routes con-

British and Chinese Corpora- with the German Syndicate for could consistently assume the British and Chinese Corporation, domiciled in Brussells. But there legitimate Belgian interest in the verging on. Hongkong by the way

tion, Ltd.-Mr. W. Keswick, the construction of railways in responsible position as the trustes however, onto it secured the in the evidence of the French "Gest Achievement" is again of Canton. To secure this advant

Representing the Hongkong China has been terminated by for British interests. In view of official concessions, commenced Yellow Book that the company is not what we are led to supposo. age the British obtained from

and Shanghai Banking Cor-minal consent. It is now agreed the suharquent actions of the to consolidate its hold on the rails a

field in China and to controlled in Paris,

The Chinese, perforce, were China the concessions for the short

that the German Syndicate and British Corporation once it had way poration Mr. Ewen Cameron,

Durselves shall each work the monopoly of support from its eliminate all competition. know that at the time the elated in the belief that they had lines radialing from Shanghai,

Mr. Julias Brussel.

Government, it ie curious to Notwithstanding the fact that document was signed, M. de Vos outwitted the official Banks and and Canton, and cemented their

M. von Hansemann proposed separately. was the bead of the Belgian brought about the crowning con- hold upon these sections. The

the following:-"It is desir I may here mention that the understand how any distinction these railway concessions were syndicate in the official Russian summation of years of struggle Shanghai-Naoking and Tientsin-

able for the British and Carman German Syndicate, always a was made as between an alliance given to the British Government Group. When the Russians were against the financial, monopoly, Yangteze (Pukow) and Canton-

Governments to agree about powerful combination, bas of late with the official German Group as purely British lines, and that the British Government entras!" admitted into the Sextuple Group, They have secured more and more Kowloon concessions were thus

Low includes all and the Agent of the Russo-liberal terms from the Belgians, seenred for British interests. Asiatic Bank in Peking nsanmed and the Managing Directors ap- The latter furthermore hoped to

the railway constructions in houses of any importance in the official German Syndicate to British and Chinese Corporation is on record that on the leadership of bie national pointed under the loan agrée-control, the Yangstze Valley by

China, and to mutually support confidence of and receives the the subsequent alliance with the February 1, 1899, the Corpora Gormany. It also enjoys the secure the official recognition, and it organization, the old concernents have absolute power. They railways from Shanghai being

the interest of either country.' appointed M. de Vos as the re- can construct the lines almost as continued to envelop the valley

This proposal was agreed to.

support of the German Govern French and Belgians with the tion entered into an agreement fall knowledge and support of with the American-China Da- presentative in Peking of the they wish. The Belgians, it seems, to the westward through the prin-

The following proposal of M. ment. find a cipal cities and towns along the

In order that British interests the British Government, can only velopment Ompany, who, at Dino-Belgian Bank, a subsidiary have been unable to

von Hansemann regarding the of the great Societe Generale de proper Engineer-in-Chief for the northern and southern limits.

British and German spheres of may be fully represented, and be construed as deliberate to that time, held the concessioh Belgique.

Lung-Taing-U-Hai line and the The idea was thus conceived of

interest for applications for that we shall be in a better post- eliminate German from any as for the constraction for the

railway, Daring the negotiations for the work is progressing under the extending the Shanghai-Nanking

Railway Concessions in China, combination now oppose to us in railways in China. But some which the British and Chinese

tion to cope with the powerful soolation in the construction of Canton-Bankow Lang-Teing-U-Hai railway loan direction of assistants appointed line westwards from Nanking, or M. de Vos received the active by the Managing Director. They rather from Pukow on the op-

1-British sphere of inter-China, the bank has decided to thing of what was refused to Corporation agreed to give the support and assistance of the have brought about the "Great posite hank of the Yangteze"

est, viz.-The Yangtze Valley. form a rong representative and Germany was cordially hinded American a certain participa. Belgian Consul General at Tien-Achievement," and for a time they river, to an indefinte point on the

subject to the connection of the influential eradicate to deal with over to Francs and Belgium, ation in the concession for the Cantan-Kowloon railway in ex- tain, M. Disiere, and it is signi- feel well satisfied with their work. line of the then projected Peking-

Shantung lines to the Yangtze the railway construction in China, will be seen later.

The result of the letter of the change for a similar participa fcant that after the loan wAS But the day of reckoning will Hankow railway at Sinyang; thus

The proposed line between at Chinkiang; the provinces

the Canton-Hankow signed, the Belgian syndicate, come. It is coming. And the Ohi-enclosing the northern half of the

south of the Yangtze; the Shanghai, Soochow nad Nanking Manager of the Hongkong and tion in again following the example al use officials now in power are be- valley, while it was hoped to pro-

province of Shansi with con-will, in the first place, engage our Shanghai Bioking Corporation to line, and; furthermore, the ready created, selected him for the ginning to see it. The hand of ceed from Shanghai, by way of

nection to the Peking-Hankow special attention. The line will the British and Chinese Corpora- parties agreed to offer to each important position of its repre Russia is. BS namietakably Hangohow, westwards to Nan-1

line at a point south of Chea-run through one of the richest tion, Ltd., and to this new com other a participation of one- sentative in China, and M. Dasiere shown in the Tatung-Chengtu. chang and Changsha, to encircle

ting and a connecting line to and most populous districts in bination was entrusted the honour half interest in any b winess now has his office with M. de Vos Agreement, as it is in the absorp the southern portion. The scheme

the Yangtaze Valley, crossing China. It will help to open up of safeguarding and protecting thereafter obtained in the Em- in the Sino-Belgian Bank, Peking. tion of Mongolia and the present provided for the ultimata exten-

the Hoangho Valley,"

the country, and as the line is the interests of Great Britain and pire of Chios.

Although this agreement is no Of course this precedent had been struggle for the control of the sion of the Northern-Pukow-

"2-German sphere of inter-sure to prove remunerative, it of securing to British manufac Sinyang-line set by other countries, who had Inner Strip.

westwards

eet, viz. "The provines of will also stimulate similar enterturera the tangible fruits of the longer in force, yet it constituted elevated men from the consular As China is gradually forced Chongtu, the capital of the im

Shantung and the Hoangho prises in other directions greatly Government's diplomatic viotora precedent which at that time received the sanction of theBritish populous and diplomatic service to represent to concede Inner Mongolia to the mensely rich and

Valley with connection to to the advantage of British trade. ies,

As it is of the utmost impor their national financial institu-warlike tribes from the North, province of Szechuan..

The organization being a pure Government, and which Tientsin and Chongting, tione in China, as witnessed in the and the Inner territory comes The opportunity for demanding

or other point of the ance that the Shanghai-Nanking ly commercial one; and as neither British and Chinean Corporation case of Mr. S. F. Mayers, formerly under the influence of the so- these last two concessions. soon

Peking-Hankow line, in the tine huldbe zedured by the Bank nor the Commercial has extended to ver the other As already of the British and Chinese Cor-called independent Mongolian presented itself.

south with connection to the Eogland. I at once arranged firm had any previous exper concessions entrusted to its core. In the original concession poration; Mr. Whillard Straight Government, Russia will be seen referred ta, Great Britain's in-

Yangteze at Chinking or Nan- with the well known house, ience in railway construction, Russia who left the American reaching out to reap the reward terest demanded that

king. The Hoangho Valley is Mesars. Jardine; Matheson & Co., the usual official departmental granted to the Pekin Syndicate,

of construction was Limited, it was given

certain Consular service to "Berve of her diplomacy, and the Cossack should not invade the Yangtze

understood to Easubject to the China, who had already been system hazards his country through the will pace the Great Wall of Valley, and at all

connecting lines in Shansi form- approached by the Chinese on the adopted, as by that means the railway rights from the mines in management of the American China as the outpost of her new she should defeat any project

ing part of the British sphere of subject, to enter into negotiations Corporation could derive a legiti. Honen to the nearest navigable which would supply the means

mate and continuoue profit by water, and the question arose of Group Herr Cordes, a graduate frontier.

interest, and to the connecting of the railway. from the German consular In the hope of doing some-for Russia on the North to make service, and others. The fact thing to stave off this calamity, a union by a line from Peking remains, however, that these men which the present rulers of with her ally on the South, were selected for their special Chins appear now to recognise.as Russia was striving hard through knowledge of the political situs impending, a Presidential Man her Belgian agents to obtain con- tion in China and their intimacy date was issued on January 8trol of such a trunk railway, while with the officials rather than for throwing Kalgan, Kweihwach the British Government was as their previous experience a3 ang, Dolonor, Chihfeng, Taonanfa zealously doing its utmost to financiers.

and Langkow open to foreign defeat the echeme, but, ns noted,

the sphere of interest of consolidated its position very and the official French Group,

The severance of relations with ed it national interests to the

to

The Tatung-Chengtu. Line trade. It is almost a forlorn hope the Belgians gained the day. M. de Vos did not rest with that the merchants of ottor na- The Chinese were hoodwinked his success in the Lung Teing-U-tions will be attracted there in and the contract for the Peking- Hai losa. His work was only sufficient numbers to offset the Hankow line went to Belgium hilf completed and he had still to march southwards of Russia. after a solemn assurance from the secure another line, which would Russia will persevere, and Chinese Government to the then obviously be the other great link when the time comes, and British Minister that no concession for the fartherance of Russia's tho long talked of line admitting Russian participation the Imperial original dream. He had to work from Urga to Kalgen of Kweil would receiva quickly and quietly as President wacheng is finally built, Russia sanction, Yuan Shih-kai bad confided to will find a ready.made connec- The British Government de Dr Bun Yat-sen the right to ting link with Peking via Kalganmanded immediate compensation finance and construct the future and across western Chins from for the alight and affront to railways of China. But M. de Tatung, whereby she may join its dignity, and China had to Vos never consulted Dr. Sun at hand with her ally in Yunnan; concede the rights for the Shang- Shanghai. He remained at Pek- and no Power or ombination of bai-Hapgohow-Ningpo and the ing and kept quietly at work Powers in the world can say them Pakow Sinyong Railways as the negotiating with the Peking nay. authorities, whom he knew and understood. The result was that on the 4th of August, last year, he In the preceding columns the As a direct result of the was able to cable to Europe that he unfolding of Russia's designs on situation arising from the kean had at last secured the concession China through the agency of the straggle for railway concessions for the line from Tatangfu Belgign element in the Russian in 1898 to strengthen the political in Shansi, pour the Mongolisa Financial Group was fully des hold of the European Powers on frontier, through Bianfu to cribed. Only one more link now Chins, the organization of a Chengta, the capital of the pro- remained to be forged to realize purely British Company became

penalty.

Internationailsation Of The Birth of the British and Chinese

Yangtsze Valley, 3.

Corporation, Ltd.,

the two countries regarding much, and

viz.

"

the

line to the Yangtze Valley, also The formation of our Syndicate acting as the Purchasing Agents constructing a railway from the belonging to the said ephere of will occupy a little time, but in cnnection with the loans mines to Pakow, on the Yangtze. for all materials urchase The rights of the Pekin Syndicate interest."

immediately after. Easter I hope Was agreed to with the fol to have the honour of submitting abroad. Like its protoype, the thus conflicted with the conces lowing alterations, viz.-"The to you the names of the members Crown Agents for the Colonies, sione granted to the British and lius from Tientsin to Tsiran or composing the Syndicate and all in England, it confined its Chinese Corporation (Tientsin another point of the northern other details, which I think will activities to appointing engineers Pakow, and Sinyang-Pukow lives) frontier of the Province of satialy you as to the representative to build the lines, and to super- which had the part of Bukow as Shantung, and the line from nature of the combination. vising the purchase and shipment their base.

Creation of the Chinese. Central of materials, the southern point of the pro- In the meantime, I trust the

Railway, Ltd. vince of Shantung to Chinking explanation I bave given will Squeezing out Independent To avoid conflict and compeli- to be constructed by the Anglo-warrant you in

Interests, giving the

tion the two companies a German Syndicato (meaning necessary instructiona to Bir With all the concessions secar-gamated their railway the German Syndicate on the Claude MacDonald to give ed from China through the north of the Yongteze river under one part, and the Hongkong and Mosere. Jardine, Matheson & Co. pressure of the British Govern- the style of the Chinese Central Shanghai Banking Corporation and the bank such support as ment duly handed over to its Railways, Limited, in the and the British and Chinese they may require.

charge for execution, the British organisation of which the British Corperation, Limited, on the

Chinese and Chinese Corporation thus, and

Corporation other part in the following.

became the official railway secured the controlling interest. manner, viz.-' '

organization of its Government As subsequent events have dis in China. With fall confidence closed the official British Cor- in its ability to build the linea poration made their first mis-step by this maleomation, for al- though the Pekin Syndicate, Limited, is registered as a British. Company, a large percentage of

"1-The capital for both lines to be raised jointly.

2-The line from 'Tientsin

or to Tainan or another point on the northern frontier of the Province of Shantang to be built and equipped and worked by the German group.

The line from the south- orn point of province of Shan- tung to Chinking to be built and equipped and worked by the English Group.

4On completion the linea

.I have, eto. (Signed) Ewen Cameron.

ceedings of the meetings, and

it is further agreed upon that neither the German Group nor

*The British and Chinese Cor

the English Group will be poration was registered on May bound to constract the lines 24, 1898, to carry on in Chiga or its shares are held in France and. assigned to their sphere unless elsewhere the business of contrac Belgium, carrying representation

ora for public works, etc, on the Board of Directors, the Shantung lines be con The authorised capital is (To be Continued Tomorrow) structed simultaneonely,

£250.000 in shares of £100 Signed London. September 2, all of which has been sub- 1808. 04

scribed, and £125,000 or £50 por Approved of and signed by A. share, called up. The accounts are made up annually to June 30, and Bubmitted in November.

to be worked for joint account. Von Hansemann W. Keswick, So far the minutes of the pro- Ewen Cameron, Jalius Brussel,

The agreement appears in the British Parlamentary Bluebook, Chine, No. 1 (1899, page 375.)