File No. 5767/137.
Chargé Fletcher to
the Secretary of State.
[Extract.]
American Legation,
Peking, November 18,
1909.
No. 1298.]
Sir: In confirmation of the telegraphic
correspondence with the department on the subject of the interpretation
of Article IV of the Chinese-Japanese agreement relating to Manchuria,
signed in Peking on the 4th September last, and in continuation of my
dispatches Nos.
[Page 123]
1240, of
September 6 and 1246 of September 10, 1909, on this subject, I have the
honor to inclose copies of notes exchanged with the Wai Wu Pai on the
subject.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Chargé Fletcher
to the Prince of Ch’ing.
American Legation,
Peking, November 16,
1909.
Your Imperial Highness: In accordance with
the instructions of my Government I have the honor to make friendly
inquiry of Your Highness’s Government as to whether or not the
references in the Chinese-Japanese agreement signed on the 4th of
September last, to joint Chinese-Japanese exploitation of mines
along the South Manchurian Railway and the Antung-Mukden Railway
involves a monopoly of the rights and privileges of opening mines in
the territory designated in the agreement to the exclusion of
American citizens and others from such a wide field of
enterprise.
My Government assumes that such is not the case and would be
gratified to learn that its views are in harmony with those of the
Imperial Chinese Government.
I avail, etc.,
[Inclosure
2.—Translation.]
The Prince of Ch’ing
to Chargé Fletcher.
The
Foreign Office,
Peking, November 18,
1909.
Your Excellency: On the 4th day of the
tenth moon of the first year of Hsuan-t’ung (November 15, 1909) I
had the honor to receive your excellency’s note reading as
follows:1
In reply I have the honor to inform your excellency that it is the
understanding of the Imperial Chinese Government that the reference
in the said agreement to joint Chinese-Japanese exploitation of
mines along the two railways mentioned does not involve a monopoly
of the rights and privileges of opening mines in the designated
territory, nor confer any exclusive rights to mines therein upon
Japanese subjects, but that mines in the territory mentioned may
with the consent of the Chinese Government be exploited by third
parties also.
I send this reply for your excellency’s information and request that
you will transmit the same to the American Government.
A necessary dispatch.
