Chargé Fletcher to the Secretary of State.
Peking, January 24, 1910.
Sir: In continuation of the subject of the neutralization of the Manchurian railways and the Chinchow-Aigun Railway negotiations, I have the honor to report that the day following my call upon Duke Tsaitse, the president of the board of finance, I received from him a very polite note, a translation of which I inclose, informing me that the memorial recommending approval of the preliminary agreement would be presented in two or three days. This was confirmed by Mr. Liang Tun-yen in a conversation at the Wai-wu Pu on Tuesday, the 18th instant.
On the following morning, January 20, the memorials of the boards of foreign affairs, finance, and communications, recommending, as I was given to understand, the ratification of the preliminary agreement and instructing the viceroy to prepare a detailed agreement which would obviate some of the objections made to the preliminary contract, were presented to the Throne and received the imperial sanction.
This information I telegraphed the same evening, but as Mr. Liang, by reason of illness in his family, was not at his office I could not give any details.
On the 21st I received a formal note from the Wai-wu Pu, translation of which I inclose, and of which I telegraphed the substance to the department. As the note of the Wai-wu Pu, unintentionally, I believe, failed to state explicitly that the memorials referred specifically to the preliminary agreement, and as the memorials contain matter which it is desired to keep secret, I thought it best to elicit from the Wai-wu Pu a definite statement on the subject. Upon receipt of the department’s telegraphic approval of this course, I prepared the inclosed note to the foreign office and yesterday called on Mr. Liang Tun-yen at his house. I explained to him that for the sake of clearness and to prevent any possible misunderstanding in the future I would, inasmuch as his note did not state explicitly that the edict ratified our preliminary agreement, address to him the note which I then read, and asked him if he could give me a definite reply. He said that he was sorry he had not stated in his note to me that [Page 253] the memorials referred to the preliminary agreement; that of course such was the case, otherwise why would they communicate to me the edict, etc. I replied that we understood this to be so, but that as it did not appear clearly it would be better to have it definitely stated. He promised to reply in this sense to my note.
I have made it perfectly clear to the officials of all the boards with whom I have discussed the proposals of the United States that we fully rely upon the hearty support and cooperation of the Chinese Government in our efforts in their behalf and have in turn been assured of China’s appreciation and readiness to do all in her power.
In connection with the subject of this dispatch I inclose copies of two reports made to the board of posts and communications by James Ginnell, Esq., a civil engineer employed by Pauling & Co., on the subject of the proposed Manchurian railways.
I have, etc.,