861.77/1761: Telegram
The Minister in China (Crane) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 12—10:25 a.m.]
316. Following is substance of Chinese Presidential mandate issued October 9th regarding Chinese Eastern Railway. The Ministry [of] Communication[s] has been negotiating with Russo-Asiatic Bank with the object of making a supplementary agreement to the Sino-Russian agreement. The essential points arrived at are: increase the number [of] Chinese on staff for joint administration of railway; make it purely commercial concern; and Chinese Government to assume temporarily executive control [of] Chinese Eastern Railway on behalf of Russian Government until definite arrangements are reached with a united Russian Government recognized by China. The proposal of the Ministry of Communication[s] is hereby approved and the said Ministry ordered to exert its utmost in directing Chinese and Russian staff to work for the improvement of the railway. The high military and civil authorities of the Three Eastern Provinces are also ordered to cooperate with the Ministries concerned and adopt measures for the adequate protection of life and property along railway.