CHINESE RAILWAYS.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXI, Issue 283, 3 June 1909, Page 8

CHINESE RAILWAYS.

bp. rrrsH fr iexdship. / Press Assn — By telegraph — Copyright. LONDON, yesterday. The. Times' regular correspondent at Pekin and the Times' special correspondent,, were sent to Tokio and ■ jointly investigated the Fakumen | railway dispute, were sho.vii proofs that China rejected conciliatory proi,])O.sals before suggesting arbitration, Japan's proposals whereon she is still prepared to resume negotiatio_..3, are . intended to obviate the danger of the i extension of tlie Fanaickumen line to- . wards Tsitsihar. ' Tho Times' Tokio correspondent j emphasises the anxiety -displayed b\e J Japanese Ministers in the course of ! this investigation to remove all misj conceptions concerning the moderation and loyalty of the Japanese, policy, and states "never during previous visits have I received, more abundant proof of the value attached to British friendship and universal ;■ belief of the necessity of maintaining i the Anglo-Japanese alliance. Tho Mikado confirmed these sentiments in granting an audience to me and my Pekin colleague on the 29th of May." Tlie Times declares that Japan's right to veto the raihvays competing with the, South Manchurian is indisputable. There is little doubt, it , adds, that one of China's objects :n handling the Manchurian question is to create friction between. Japan and | the. other Powers. It adds further that by joining in giving the Fakumen contract to. a British firm when . warned that the construction would i violate the protocol of December, i 1905, Chinese statesmen hoped to eni- , broil us and our allies. In this they were disappointed, for our alliance of friendship with Japan was btised i too firmly on the interest of both ! countries, to be seriously affected by j such transparent manoeuvres.