Chargé Fletcher to
the Secretary of State.
[Extract.]
American Legation,
Peking, December 31,
1909.
No. 1332.]
Sir: In continuation of my No. 1329, of the
28th instant, on the subject of the neutralization of the Manchurian
railways, I have the honor to report that the British minister, Sir John
Jordan, called on me yesterday and stated that he had received
instructions advising him of his Government’s acceptance of the general
principle involved in the United States Government’s suggestion for the
neutralization of the railways in Manchuria and directing him to
cooperate with me in support of the Chinchow-Aigun project, and with me
to urge China to admit Japanese participation therein.
I have to-day addressed the inclosed note to Prince Ching, in which I
quote at length my memorandum of the 21st instant, setting forth the
broader alternative to which China has already agreed in principle, and
invite China’s favorable consideration of the lesser project based on
the Chinchow Railway.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure.]
Chargé Fletcher
to the Prince of Ching.
American Legation,
Peking, December 31,
1909.
Your Imperial Highness: I had the honor to
present to your highness’s board on the 21st instant a memorandum in
the following terms:1
[Page 243]
On the 24th instant I was informed by their excellencies Na-t’ung and
Liang Tun-yen, presidents of the board of foreign affairs, that the
project above outlined met with a favorable consideration of Your
Highness’s Government. This suggestion, which has for its object the
commercial neutralization of the three eastern provinces, has also
been made to the various Governments likely to interest themselves
in the project, and their reply will be in due course communicated
to the Imperial Chinese Government.
The Government of the United States regards the Chinchow-Aigun
Railway, the preliminary agreement for the financing, construction,
and operation of which was signed last October, as an important
factor in the proposed plan; for should it transpire that the larger
and more comprehensive project for the repurchase by China of all
the Manchurian railways be found not possible in its entirety at
this time, the desired aim may approximately be obtained by the
construction of the Chinchow-Aigun line by China under said
arrangements and by inviting, as provided therein, the powers
friendly to complete commercial neutralization in Manchuria to
participate in the financing and construction of not only the
Chinchow-Aigun line, but also of such additional lines as the future
commercial development may demand, and that at the same time to
supply funds for the purchase by China of such of the existing lines
of railway as might be effered for sale to China, and which would be
included in the Manchurian system.
The Government of the United States would therefore be pleased to
learn that its suggestion with regard to the Chinchow-Aigun Railway
also meets with the approval of Your Highness’s Government, and that
the proper arrangements may be undertaken to make the same
effective.
I avail myself, etc.,
