Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/367

 1899.] Asia. — China. — Railways. [359

construct a railway from Sammun Bay to Poyang Lake within a sphere of influence comprising the southern two thirds of Ghe-kiang province. The demand was supported by a note from the British Minister, but it was rejected with contempt by the Tsung-li-Yam6n. To enforce the demand some Italian marines were landed at Sammun Bay. Through misunder- standing, Sgr. Martino, the Italian Minister, sent an ultima- tum with the sanction of his Government, allowing only four days for a reply. Italy not intending to resort to force dis- avowed this ultimatum, and recalled Sgr. Martino. Pending the appointment of his successor, Italy was represented by the British Ambassador at Pekin. Negotiations were continued between Italy and China after the appointment of Sgr. Sal- vago Raggi as the Italian Minister at Pekin. In May the Italian demand was confined to the lease of a coaling station merely. In August mining rights in North Che-kiang and a chair of Italian at Pekin University were demanded, out the Tsung-li-YamSn, while willing to grant the mining rights, stubbornly refused to concede any other demands.

Sir Claude Macdonald obtained leave of absence in March for a visit to England, and Mr. Bax Ironside, Secretary of Legation, became British Charge* 6! Affairs, ad interim.

At the end of April Great Britain and Russia concluded an agreement with regard to their respective railway interests in China that had been discussed for many months.

1. Great Britain engaged not to seek on her own account or for others railway concessions north of the great wall of China, and not to obstruct Russian applications for concessions in that region.

2. Russia made a like agreement respecting the basin of the Yang-tsze, relative to British claims and concessions.

3. The contracting parties agreed to inform China of the arrangement, since they had no desire in any way to infringe the sovereign rights of China or existing treaties.

An agreement was appended as to the Shanghai-Euan and Niu-Chwang Railway which declared that the railway must remain a Chinese line under control of the Chinese Govern- ment, and that the Chinese Government might appoint both an English engineer to supervise the construction of the line and a European accountant to look after the expenditures appropriated.

In March the Belgian Minister applied to the Tsung-li- Yamfen for a concession at Hankow for land on which to build the terminus of the Luhan Railway. This had the support of the British Minister, although Belgium had played an un- friendly part in railway negotiations. • China was disposed to grant the land to Belgian employees, but declined to yield the valuable river frontage which was asked for. China, however, agreed in December to allow M. Rouffart, a Belgian engineer, to construct a railway connecting the Luhan Line with Honan-