Mr. Rockhill to Mr.
Hay.
No. 153.]
Commissioner of
the United States to China,
Peking,
China, August 12,
1901.
Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith copy of a
note addressed by the dean of the diplomatic corps, under date of the 8th
instant, to the Chinese plenipotentiaries, asking the financial cooperation
of their government in the work of improving the navigability of the Peiho
and Whangpu rivers, and their acceptance of the regulations concerning the
organization, duties, and revenues of the Whangpu River Conservancy
board.a
The regulations will figure as an annex to the Final Protocol.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure in No.
153.—Translation.]
Mr. de Cologan to
the Chinese Plenipotentiaries.
Highness, Excellency: As I had the honor to
write you on the 30th of July, the representatives of the powers, in
consenting to the raising to 5 per cent effective of the present tariff
on maritime imports, have decided to ask of China, as a compensation, to
participate financially in the improvement of the courses of the Peiho
and the Whangpoo.
As regards the Peiho, the works for improvement commenced in 1898 have
recently been resumed by an international committee in which the Chinese
Government will be able to be represented as soon as the administration
of. Tientsin shall have been handed over to it. The representatives of
the powers have only to request the Chinese Government to pledge itself
to pay annually to the said commission a sum of 60,000 Haikwan taels for
the maintenance of the works.
As regards the Whangpu, a conservancy board, charged with the direction
and control of the works, is to be created. This board shall consist of
members representing the interests of the Chinese Government and those
of the foreigners engaged in the shipping trade of Shanghai. The
expenses entailed by the works and the general management of the
undertaking are estimated at the sum of 460,000 taels during the first
twenty years. This sum shall be supplied in equal portions by the
Chinese Government and foreign interests. The detail of the stipulations
concerning the composition, duties, and revenues of the board are given
in the inclosed Projet de règlement.
By taking cognizance of this latter document, your highness and your
excellency will see that the powers, taking into consideration the
present financial condition of the Empire, ask only of China the
pecuniary sacrifices indispensable for the general interests in
question.
I avail myself of this opportunity, etc.,
