Mr. Conger to Mr.
Hay.
American Legation,
Peking,
China, August 12,
1904.
No. 1680.]
Sir: Continuing the subject-matter of my No.
1639 of June 22 last, I have now the honor to confirm our recent
telegraphic correspondence concerning the Whangpu conservancy.
I also acknowledge receipt by our last mail of Department’s instruction
No. 814, of June 29, and inclose copies of my recent correspondence with
His Imperial Highness Prince Ch’ing.
I have in private conference with my British and German colleagues
clearly explained your position, and shall do so with others after the
Chinese make a definite proposal, or, opportunely, before.
The British and German ministers personally agree with me and are
consulting their governments.
The Chinese Government can, if it desires, furnish the funds and do this
work promptly and satisfactorily, but it must be done under competent
foreign supervision. I am not certain, however, that it is really
desirous to have the work done, but am inclined to believe that this
last proposal is only made to avoid having the work done under the
arrangement provided for in the final protocol, which has always been
very objectionable to the Chinese Government.
If it can be delayed by further deliberate negotiations, I apprehend they
will be quite pleased.
In my judgment the only way to secure the early commencement of the work,
or even to make the Chinese hasten in their efforts to conclude
negotiations upon their new proposal, is to make them understand that
the powers are in earnest in their insistence that the work shall be
carried out in strict accordance with the provisions of the protocol,
and that if the Chinese Government will not take hold, as by its terms
they have promised, then the powers will at once organize the commission
and proceed to its execution without it. Rather than this China will do
anything possible.
However, the agreement of the powers is the first essential, and I am
sure this can be much more easily secured directly by the home
governments than by their representatives here.
Many of the ministers are at present away from the city for the summer,
but will probably have returned by the time the Chinese are ready to
present the full programme and plan demanded.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Mr. Conger to
Prince Ch’ing.
American Legation,
Peking, June 27,
1904.
Your Imperial Highness: I have the honor to
state that I have received telegraphic instructions from the
Department of State directing me to make some inquiries from your
imperial highness in regard to China’s proposals concerning the
Whangpu conservancy matter. My Government would like to know
definitely just what guaranties of early action and satisfactory
conclusion of the
[Page 194]
work
China will give in the event of the other powers being willing to
accept the new proposals recently made by the Chinese
Government.
I have the honor, therefore, to request your imperial highness to
send me a definite and detailed reply in regard to the
above-mentioned guaranties, that I may transmit the report to my
Government for their consideration without delay. The Whangpu
conservancy matter is a question of the highest importance, and I am
constrained once more to urge the immediate attention of your
imperial highness to the consideration of this question, the final
settlement of which is of so much consequence and has been so long
delayed.
Trusting that I will receive an early reply, I avail, etc,
[Inclosure 2.]
Mr. Conger to
Prince Ch’ing.
American Legation,
Peking, July 25,
1904.
Your Imperial Highness: On June 27 last, by
direction of my Government, I had the honor to address a note to
your imperial highness inquiring what guaranties of early action and
satifactory conclusion of the work China would give in case the
signatory powers agreed to accept the new proposals of the Chinese
Government concerning the Whangpu conservancy matter. To this I have
as yet received no reply.
In order that I may inform my Government, I regret that I am obliged
to again ask your imperial highness for the courtesy of an early
reply.
I also avail, etc.,
[Inclosure 3.]
Prince Ch’ing
to Mr. Conger.
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your excellency’s
note, saying that by direction of your Government you had the honor
to inquire (on June 27 of this year) what guaranties of early action
and satisfactory conclusion of the work China would give in case the
signatory powers agreed to accept the new proposals of the Chinese
Government concerning the Whangpu conservancy matter. In order that
you might inform your Government, your excellency requested the
courtesy of an early reply.
I have the honor to state that upon receipt of the above my board at
once communicated with the board of revenue, asking them to make a
thorough and satisfactory reply as soon as possible. This is on
record. Upon receipt of your excellency’s second letter, pressing
the matter, my board again wrote to the board of revenue urging them
to action, and have received a reply from that board as follows:
“In improving the Whangpu River the yearly expenses should be
supplied as they come due by China herself. Of these expenses the
province of Chiang-nan (Annul and Kiangsu) will raise 230,000 taels
and the remaining 230,000 taels will be supplied in full by this
board. This is without doubt an important work, and we trust you
will transmit this our report to the United States minister.”
It appears, then, that China herself will assume the expenses of
improving the Whangpu river, these expenses amounting to 460,000
taels a year, and the board of revenue has guaranteed to be
responsible for appropriating the funds. If the signatory powers
agree to the plan as proposed by this board this matter will be
brought to an early completion.
It becomes my duty, therefore, to make this reply to your
excellency’s letter, and I trust you will transmit the information
to the Department of State. At the same time avail, etc.
Cards inclosed.
Sixth moon, 19th day (July 31,
1904).
[Page 195]
[Inclosure 4.]
Mr. Conger to
Prince Ch’ing.
American Legation,
Pelting, August 1,
1904
Your Imperial Highness: I have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of your highness’s note of the 31st ultimo
in response to my two notes asking what guaranties of early action
and satisfactory conclusion of the work China would give in case the
signatory powers would agree to accept the new proposals of the
Chinese Govenment concerning the Whangpu conservancy matter.
It is to be regretted that that communication does not by any means
reply to the inquiry of my Government made in my notes. Your
highness’s statement is practically that the Provinces of Anhui and
Kiangsu and the board of revenue will furnish the necessary funds.
What my Government wants to know, and what the other governments
will unquestionably require, is that ample and sufficient guaranty
of some kind shall be given that will, under any and all
circumstances, insure the actual furnishing of the money promised,
and its expenditure annually upon the work. This can not be
considered an unreasonable condition, in view of the fact that
nearly four years ago China agreed in the final protocol to an
excellent plan for this work, but which, instead of carrying out,
she has persistently obstsructed by her failure to appoint her
member of the commission. I must therefore again ask your imperial
highness to kindly reply to my Government’s inquiry, and state
specifically what guaranty the Chinese Government will furnish to
the powers that these funds as promised will be forthcoming. If such
satisfactory guaranty can be furnished my Government will not object
to the new proposals. Otherwise it will insist that the plain
agreement of the protocol be promptly and faithfuly executed.
I take, etc.,
[Inclosure 5.]
The Foreign Office to
Mr. Cooper.
We have the honor to acknowledge the receipt on the 12th instant of
your excellency’s reply, saying that it was to be regretted that our
communication did not clearly reply to the inquiry repeatedly made
in your excellency’s notes regarding the Whangpu conservancy scheme,
which was: “If the various powers should consent to the plan
proposed by China, what guaranty will China give that the work will
be performed?” Your excellency further stated that our reply was
nothing more than that the Provinces of the Kiangnan and the board
of revenue would supply the necessary funds; and that what your
Government wanted to know, and what the other governments would
certainly require was that some reliable guaranty should be given
that under any circumstances whatever, the necessary funds would
certainly each year be promptly appropriated; that you had again to
request that a speedy reply be made to this inquiry; that the
meaning of your Government’s inquiry was that a definite statement
should be made as to what surety would be given that each year the
funds would be certainly appropriated; that, if such satisfactory
guaranty could be given, your Government could not but consent to
the new plan proposed, but that otherwise it would insist that the
matter be dealt with according to the original terms of the
protocol.
Upon the receipt of your excellency’s note our board at once
communicated its contents to the ministers of the board of revenue,
and discussed the matter with them very thoroughly. The annual
amount to be furnished for the proposed improvement of the Whangpu
is 460,000 taels, all of which China agrees to promptly appropriate
year by year. Now, we find that the annual revenues from opium in
the province of Szechuen amounts in round numbers to 400,000 taels,
and that revenue from opium in the prefecture of Hsü-chou, in
Kiang-su Province, amounts in round numbers to 200,000 taels per
annum, making together a total in excess and never less than the
total amount required for the annual expenditure upon the
improvement of the Whangpu, which is 460,000 taels, and we have the
honor, in reply to your excellency’s inquiry, to submit these two
items of opium revenue as the guaranty asked. We hope you will
[Page 196]
communicate this to your
honorable Government, and hope we may have a speedy reply, for which
we shall be grateful.
We avail, etc.
Cards inclosed.
Sixth moon, 24th day (August 5,
1904.)
[Inclosure 6.]
Mr. Conger to
Prince Ch’ing.
American Legation,
Peking, August 11,
1904.
Your Imperial Highness: In reply to your
imperial highness’s note of the 5th instant stating that the Chinese
Government would give as a guaranty for the faithful carrying out of
the proposed Whangpu conservancy scheme certain opium revenues, I
have the honor to say that I at once telegraphed the substance of
your highness’s note to my Government and have received a reply to
the effect that, while it is not willing to deny the sufficiency of
the revenue proposed as a guaranty, yet it thinks that in view of
the enormity of the enterprise, the great cost of organizing the
work, and of the necessary plant and the long continuance of the
work, that some kind of satisfactory bond measure should be
arranged.
At any rate, before my Government can consider any abrogation of the
provisions of the final protocol, a full programme of the plans for
work and maintenance must be submitted.
If, then, China is really desirous of promptly taking up this work
and hastening it to a conclusion, I suggest that she forthwith
present to the representatives of the powers a full and detailed
plan which, secured by the revenues mentioned and supported by some
kind of bond measure, will insure the speedy and satisfactory
carrying out of the important work and its permanent maintenance in
good condition.
If this should be done at once, my Government will not oppose it, and
I shall be glad personally to do whatever I properly may for its
furtherance.
It should be clearly understood, however, that, whereas the United
States is willing to waive temporarily its right to insist on China
complying with the terms agreed to by her in Article VI of the final
protocol concerning the improvement of the course of the Whangpu
River, it will do so only so long as the Chinese Government promptly
and satisfactorily discharges the new obligations which it now
wishes to assume. Should it become, evident at a later date that the
conservancy work is not being done promptly, or that a disposition
is evidenced not to carry out the work to the satisfaction of all
interests concerned, the United States will insist upon full and
strict compliance with the terms of the original agreement.
I avail, etc.,
