Mr. Rockhill to Mr. Hay.

No. 153.]

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.,

W. W. Rockhill.
[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.,

B. J. de Cologan.
  1. For regulations, see Final Protocol, annex No. 17.