File No. 1571/31.
Minister Calhoun to
the Secretary of State.
American Legation,
Peking, June 23,
1910.
No. 43.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to Mr.
Fletcher’s dispatch No. 1288, dated November 10, 1909,1 on the subject of the Whangpoo
conservancy, and to inclose herewith for your information a copy of the
reply made on December 14 last, by the dean of the diplomatic body to
the Wai-wu Pu’s note of October 26, 1909, a copy in translation of which
was forwarded with Mr. Fletcher’s dispatch mentioned above. The
department will note that the foreign representatives not only refused
to acquiesce in the claim of the Wai-wu-Pu that “China has met all her
obligations under the special Whangpoo conservancy agreement and other
nations should not have any criticisms to make,” but also unequivocally
stated their determination to hold China to the provisions of the final
protocol of 1901.
As predicted by Mr. Fletcher in his No. 1301 of November 23, 1909,2 the dredging work was
resumed on November 25 with the aid of the 300,000 taels furnished by
the Imperial Government in accordance with the promise contained in
their letter of October 16 to the dean. (Vide Mr. Fletcher’s No.
1288.)
In January it became common knowledge in Shanghai that the imperial high
commissioner, Viceroy Jui Cheng, together with Viceroy Chang Jenchun,
had memorialized the Wai-wu-Pu to inform the foreign powers that China
“was neither willing nor obliged to spend further money on the
conservancy work.” The Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce formally
protested to the consular body and requested that the matter be brought
to the attention of the diplomatic body. I inclose a copy of the
chamber’s letter of protest to the consular dean.
In view of the fact that the main features of the conservancy
work—namely, the closing of the ship channel and the opening of the
Astrea channel—would probably be completed by next September, and
further considering that the money in hand is nearly exhausted and no
definite arrangement has as yet been made for obtaining the necessary
funds for finishing the whole conservancy scheme, which included de
Rijke’s plans for the removal of Pheasant and Pootung Points as well as
work on the upper reaches of the river, the conservancy board deemed it
advisable for the sake of economy to give M. de Bijke notice of the
termination of his engagement on November 30 next, six months before the
expiration of his contract, the directors of the board being of the
opinion that the work of maintenance of the Astrea channel could safely
be intrusted to a junior engineer. Upon being informed of the action of
the conservancy board, the dean of the consular body made a strong
protest and requested that the letter of dismissal be withdrawn. A
similar protest was made by the chamber of commerce to the consular
body. Copies of the various letters concerning M. de Rijke’s dismissal
were
[Page 354]
forwarded by the consul
dean to the dean of the diplomatic body, copies of which are
respectfully forwarded herewith.
At a recent meeting of the diplomatic representatives of the respective
Governments directly interested in the project—i. e., Great Britain,
Germany, France, the Netherlands, and the United States—a general
discussion of the situation was had. The suggestion was received with
favor, that doubtless the adverse attitude of the Chinese authorities
toward the continuation of the work was in part influenced by the want
of money, and that foreign interests would have to take into
consideration some method for providing the money if the work was to be
continued, especially so if it is to be continued under the protocol of
1901.
The further suggestion was made that the diplomatic representatives were
without information as to just how much of the work had been completed,
how much remained to be done, and particularly as to how far the
unfinished work was essential to the protection of what had been done,
and to the realization of the benefits originally contemplated. To
obtain this information expert investigation and advice was necessary,
and such service was not within the command of the diplomatic
representatives.
It was also stated that, at the instance of the Shanghai commercial
interests, a survey of the work done had been made, and a report as to
the same, including soundings and other data, had been furnished some
expert consulting engineers in London, with a view of obtaining their
opinion as to both the efficiency and sufficiency of the work done, and
what, if anything, was necessary to be further done. It was stated that
a report from the London engineers could not be expected until some time
in the fall.
It was also stated that the Imperial Government had some kind of a report
from the imperial high commissioner upon the subject, the nature and
extent of which were not known. For the information of the diplomatic
representatives it was decided that the dean should again address a note
[copy inclosed] to the Imperial Government with a special view of
obtaining a copy of the report aforesaid and that the intention of the
Imperial Government might be ascertained.
In this same connection I beg to report that the dean, in a private
conversation I had with him, expressed the opinion that the powers
interested would doubtless have to take some affirmative action to have
the work continued, either under Chinese administration, or under the
administration originally contemplated by the protocol of 1901. Also
that in either contingency some steps would have to be taken by foreign
cooperation to raise the additional money required. He asked me what
authority I had, if any, to confer with our colleagues directly
interested, with a view of reaching some agreement on the subject.
Having in mind the last instruction on the subject received by this
legation from the department—to wit, the department’s instruction,
Serial No. 658, dated November 2, 19091—I said I might join in such a conference for
the consideration of a proposition to raise money for the imposition of
a surtax upon riparian lands, trade, and navigation, but not upon
commerce. I beg to inquire if there is any objection to my joining in
such a conference
[Page 355]
for the
consideration of devising plans to raise money, provided that such plans
shall only be tentative and must be first submitted to the department
for approval before becoming operative, etc.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure
1—Translation.]
The dean of the diplomatic
body to the Prince of
Ch’ing.
Peking, December 14,
1909.
Your Imperial Highness: I have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of your highness’s note of October 26 last,
on the subject of the work of correcting and conserving the
Whangpoo. I did not fail to communicate this note to the chiefs of
mission at Peking.
The latter have not thought it possible under the circumstances for
them to adopt the point of view of the Imperial Chinese Government.
The representatives of the powers have, in fact, decided that so
long as the work on the Whangpoo is not complete to the extent and
within the limits provided in the final protocol of 1901, they can
not consider that the Chinese Government is absolved from the
obligations to which it is bound.
My colleagues have accordingly requested me to inform your highness
of the impossibility of acquiescing in the statements which I have
transmitted to them.
I seize, etc.,
[Inclosure 2.]
Chairman of the Shanghai
General Chamber of Commerce to the senior consul.
Shanghai Chamber of Commerce,
Shanghai, January 17, 1910.
No. 2077.]
Sir: I have the honor to draw the attention
of the consular body to a statement published in the North China
Daily News of the 3d instant to the effect that Viceroy Jui Cheng,
who was appointed high commissioner for the Huangpu conservancy, has
given orders to the conservancy board not to close any further
contracts beyond the amounts so far granted, including the 300,000
taels which were lately placed at the disposal of the board, and
further that with Viceroy Chang Jen-chun the Wai-wu-Pu has been
memorialized to communicate to the foreign ministers that China is
neither willing nor obliged to spend further money on the
conservancy work.
This question was discussed by my committee at their meeting held on
the 10th instant, when it was decided to request you to make urgent
representations to the diplomatic corps at Peking with a view to
their taking prompt measures to insure the carrying out of the work
for permanently conserving the river.
My committee also desire to point out that the viceroy seems to have
overlooked the convention of the 27th September, 1905, by
memorializing “that China is neither willing nor obliged to spend
further money.”
In conclusion I would like to state that the engineers engaged by the
chamber to report on the conservancy work are due to arrive early in
February, but in the meantime my committee view with anxiety a trend
of events which points to the possibility of a prolonged stoppage of
the work and to the further disregard of the treaty obligations by
which China is bound.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 3.]
Secretary Carruthers, of Whangpoo Conservancy Board, to
Consul Siffert, dean of the
consular body.
Office of the Whangpoo Conservancy Board,
Shanghai, May
19, 1910.
Sir: By direction of the conservancy board,
I inclose copy of a letter addressed to the engineer in chief of the
board, Mr. J. de Rijke, giving notice of the termination of his
engagement from the 30th of November, 1910.
[Page 356]
I am further instructed to say that plans for the completion and
maintenance of river improvement are being prepared, particulars of
which will be forwarded to you for the information of the consular
body as soon as possible.
I have, etc.,
[Subinclosure.]
Directors of the Whangpoo
Conservancy Board to Mr. de
Rijke.
Sir: The main parts of the conservancy work
are expected to be finished by the end of September this year and
work carried on after that time will be principally in the way of
maintenance and preservation rather than in the way of extension.
Considering that the simpler work of maintenance can safely be
carried on under the direction of an engineer of less conspicuous
attainments than those which have been fortunately at the board’s
disposal in planning and carrying out the principal conservancy
scheme, and considering further that the funds appropriated for
conservancy work are nearly exhausted and that no fixed source of
further income has as yet been provided for, the directors of the
conservancy board have decided that it is advisable, for the sake of
economy, to terminate your engagement as engineer in chief.
You are accordingly notified that on the 30th of November, 1910,
being six months after the end of the present month, your
appointment as engineer in chief of the Whangpoo Conservancy will
cease.
The board takes this occasion to assure you of its high appreciation
of the invaluable services you have rendered, and repeats that it is
solely on account of the less important nature of the work still to
be done, and for the sake of necessary economy, that it has decided
to dispense with your services.
We have, etc.,
- Ts’ai Nai-Huang.
- H. F. Merrill.
[Inclosure 4.]
Chairman of the Shanghai
General Chamber of Commerce to the Senior Consul.
Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce,
Shanghai, May
31, 1910.
Sir: The committee of this chamber learn
with regret that the conservancy board have notified Mr. de Rijke
that his appointment as engineer in chief of the board will
terminate on the 30th November next.
In view of the present state of the river, with the various works
shown in the plan not completed, and a considerable part not
commenced, I have the honor on behalf of this chamber to protest
most strongly against so early a termination of Mr. de Rijke’s
agreement.
I would therefore be obliged if the consular body would give this
protest their support and press for the withdrawal of the
conservancy board’s letter.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 5.]
The Senior Consul to
the Directors of the Whangpoo Conservancy
Board.
Gentlemen: I have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your letter of the 19th ultimo, with a copy of your
letter to Mr. de Rijke, engineer in chief, giving notice of the
termination of his engagement from the 30th of November, 1910.
In reply I beg to remark—first, that by virtue of its own clause,
this contract holds good till the month of June, 1911; further, that
it would be extremely prejudicial to the interests of the port to
dispense with the present engineer in chief’s services as long as
the various works contemplated are not completed and the maintenance
of the good results obtained is not secured.
I am therefore directed to protest most strongly against Mr. de
Rijke’s proposed dismissal, and to request that you will withdraw
the above-mentioned letter.
I have, etc.,
[Page 357]
[Inclosure 6.]
The Dean of the Diplomatic
Body to the Prince of
Ch’ing.
Your Highness: In my letter of December 14
last I bad the honor to inform your highness in the name of the
diplomatic body that the representatives of the powers were of the
opinion that “as long as the conservancy work of the Whangpoo River
remained unfinished to the extent and within the limits of the final
protocol of 1901 the Government of China could not be considered as
freed from the obligations which it had assumed.” My colleagues,
consequently, reserved the right to return to the question at the
proper time.
The diplomatic body calls to mind that the Imperial Government has
always declared that it had the continuance of the work on the
Whangpoo as much at heart as the foreigners, and that its intention,
repeatedly affirmed, was to do everything to conserve the works
which had already been achieved. The Imperial Government, however,
has not expressed its opinion of the manner in which it considers
that these works, which evidently are as yet incomplete, should be
finished; nor has it indicated rom what source it will secure the
sums necessary for the continuance of the work and he maintenance of
the whole. The Chinese Government has declared in its letter of ——
that it will furnish 300,000 taels for carrying out the new dredging
contract. This sum is at the present moment exhausted, or at least
will be so very shortly. Hence arises a situation in which the
diplomatic body is constrained to take an interest.
The representatives of the powers have learned that the Imperial
Government had entrusted the study of the question of the Whangpoo
to a special commissioner, who obtained the services of a European
expert. The report of this commissioner must certainly be to-day in
the hands of the administration at Peking. My colleagues have
thought that the simplest way for them to learn the intention of the
Government of China would be to have this report communicated to
them or be informed of its contents in detail. They have, therefore,
charged me to request your highness to be so good as to give them a
copy of this document or make it possible for them to take
cognizance of it. The diplomatic body hopes that in this way it will
be possible to arrive at an equitable understanding which will
equally safeguard both foreign interests and those of the Imperial
Government of China.
