[Enclosure—Translation]
The Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs
(Wellington
Koo) to the American
Minister (Schurman)
[Peking,] November 25,
1922.
No. 307
Sir: The receipt is acknowledged of Your
Excellency’s note (No. 213) dated October 31st, 1922, regarding the
termination of the Inter-Allied Committee and the Technical Board.
On receipt thereof (his Ministry communicated the matter to the
Ministry of Communications for consideration and reply. A
communication has now been received stating as follows:
“Since the Washington Conference this Government has
exercised very great care in the selection of the officials
of the Chinese Eastern Railway. Also, as regards the
Russians employed on the railway, those employed as
Superintendents and engineers and above are recommended by
the Board of Directors, and also their qualifications must
be carefully examined by this Ministry in order to determine
whether or not they are competent before they are appointed.
As regards the expenses of the railway, this Ministry has
several times written to the Director General that he should
see to it that the entire expenses of the road should be
comprised in the budget, and that all expenditures which
might be reduced and all work except the most urgent should
be examined and reduced. During the present year the total
saving in expense amounted to Rubles 3,857,000. The budget
for the present year compared with last year shows a saving
in expenditures of 13 per cent. Moreover the business of the
railway since its reorganization has increased daily. Not
only have very gratifying results been achieved in the
technical and financial phases of the railway, but the
rolling stock for the conveyance of goods and passengers has
been sufficient to meet the demands of the traffic.
Moreover, the average speed of trains has been increased;
the locomotives and rolling stock during the year travelled
a greater distance; the horse-power of the locomotives and
the carrying capacity of the freight cars was increased;
delays and accidents decreased; passenger cars and stations
were thoroughly repaired and cleaned. These are all
evidences of progress. As a consequence the business of the
Railway has increased daily. The net profit for the year
1921 amounted to Rubles 2,030,875, as compared with an
estimate of Rubles 9,708. This is an increase of Rubles
2,021,167.
In addition to the above, the methods for protection of the
railway were also considered, and the Commander-in-Chief for
the Protection of the Railway has taken strict and adequate
measures for the protection of the entire line.”
[Page 931]
This Ministry has to state that at the Washington Conference last
year, the Chinese delegates stated that the legal position of the
Chinese Eastern Railway had been clearly stated in the various
agreements made between China and Russia. As to the trust, the
extent of the responsibilities which China assumed were merely those
which were formerly exercised by the former Russian Government
according to its agreements with China, and which are now exercised
by China as a provisional measure because of the absence of a
formally recognized Russian Government.
Being now in receipt of the reply from the Ministry of
Communications, I have the honor to communicate it to Your
Excellency and would request that you will kindly take note
thereof.
With compliments.
Seal of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs
