MANCHURIAN RAILWAYS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 13970, 28 January 1909, Page 5

MANCHURIAN RAILWAYS.

JAPANESE ATTITUDE.

By Telegraph.— Association.—

Pekin, January 26. Dr. Morrison, correspondent of the Times, hints that Britain will be unable longer to support Japan's standpoint regarding the Fakumen railway.

Japan's objection was that the Hsin-min-tun to Fakumen railway, which China proposed to construct, would compete with Japan's Manchurian railways, contrary to treaty. In the House of Commons, some months ago, Sir Gilbert Parker asked the Secretary off State for Foreign Affairs (SiEdward "Grey) whether the Government had any official knowledge that Japan was" contesting the right of China to extend northwards her railway system west of the Liau River; whether it supported the Japanese position, which was a practical extinction, of Chinese sovereignty in the region affected,; and whether this would be in keeping with the terms of the Anglo-Japanese alliance? Sir K. Grey' replied that as far as the Government was aware, Japan was notcontesting the right in principle of China tr* extend her railway system west of the Liau River. Japan was opposing the application for the construction of a particular line, on the ground that an agreement was arrived at- in 1905 between China and Japan by which the former country engaged not to construct any main lino of railway in the neighbourhood of, and parallel to,' the South Manchurian railway, or any branch line which might be prejudicial to that railway. The existence of _ this agreement was not disputed by the Chinese Government.