New-York tribune., 1899-07-15
CHINA MUST KEEP FAITH.
STATE DEPARTMENT ACTS TO PROTECT
AMERICAN INTERESTS.
MINISTER coNGER INSTRUCTED TO MAKE
REPRESENTATIONS IN FAVOR -oE CON-
rrNu1NG RAILWAY coNcEss1oNs-No :

REPRESENTATIONS IN FAVOR OBJ CON-
TINu1NG RAILWAY coNCEss1oNs-No
JOINT ACTION WITH ENGLAND.
rpr TELEGRAPH TO TIE rRrsuxEl
washington, July A.-Secretary Hay has in
.,ructed Minister Conger. at Peking to make
.o,resentations TO the Chinese Government in
,syor Of a continuance of the American railway
CONCESSIONS and in all probability the British
government which takes a similar interest in
,nA British concessions. that are so closely
allied 20 those owned In this country will make
IKE representations This step is not, however,
20 be regarded as concerted move by America
and England. but the fact that the two will be
s,nultaneous should have great effect In offset
ting the foreign interests at Peking which are
hostile 10 English and American enterprises.
This action by the State Department was the
result Of a visit made TO Secretary Hay this
morning by w. Barclay Parsons. Of NewYork.
Mr. Parsons explained at some length TO the
Secretary the obstacles that have been en-
ccuntered by his company In carrying out Its
concessions. The Chinese Government Is osten-
s;bly held 10 be obstructing the concessionaires.
hut behind that Government and urging ii un-
willingly its course are foreign influences,
according TO Mr.. Parsons. which are striving to
secure this concession for themselves Mr..
pa-sons represented that an English company
holding the concession for a line from Canton
10 Kowloon was prepared 10 unite interests with
,he American corporation and effect combi-
nation 70 maintain themselves against these
foreign influences The British Government
would naturally look after the interests Of its
subiects and the American corporation asked
secretary Hay to take similar action 10 require
the Chinese Government, to permit the execu-
ton of the concession.
JOINT ACTION NOT REQUESTED
Minister Conger has also been directed to in
vsstleate fully and report before any more posi-
tive steps are taken than the preliminary rep
-esartstions He will use his good offices in all
nroper ways in behalf OF the American COM
nanv and 70 prevent injury 10 its Interests
There has been no communicate bctWSs the
British and United States go.ernmer's In re-
gard 20 the matter. and TO joint action has
been asked for by the American company, ana
none has been recommended. Tn" traditional
nopcv Of the state Department has been pur-
sued in this as in other cases. the American
d,n,ornatic representatives being charged to as
sst in every way American interests in the
countries TO which they are accredited. In
cases of conpetition between different Ameri-
ran enterprises the Minister is warned not TO
.avor one al the expense Of the other, but 10
exert his good Offices in all cases OF contracts
and competitions. that American Interests
shall have an equal chance with those OF other
The Chinese Minister. WI Ting Fang. said
TODAY that he had not been advised IN any
ofncal manner of the combination between tne
American and British companies having certain
concessions in China OF any appeal TO the
respective Governments, and he ala not care
"a discuss the effect or significance OF such
moves until he had learned of them in an ON,
cal manner. The Minister is deeply interested
IN everything that relates TO the American con,
cession. as Ii was granted through MIN ~
Apru 1898 after extended conferences with
several Of the representatives Of the late SEN
stor Brice.
TERMS OF THE CONCESSION.
In the original concession granted 10 the
American company it is said that a Chinese
company is engaged in the construction Of rail-
ways. under imperial sanction. with Shing
Tagan as director general The latter gives the
Chinese Minister here authority TO make ar
raneements with American concerns. The
agreement recites that the American China De-
yeopment Company agrees 70 provide as a
loan for the construction OF the railway from
the city Of HankoW the city of Canton the
sum Of f4OOOOO0 or It's equivalent in American
dollars gold or more II necessary, for the
building and equipping OF SAID road. Inc me
100000 is 70 be paid in instalments as the
work proceeds and the first instalment is pay
able when the report Of the engineer-in chief or
the American company shall be accepted by the
company ana approved Dy lHS uHeNNSi bC"1AAi'
Shing Tagan
Article III Of the concession provides that TO
secure the amount of the loan. imperial Chinese
gold bonds sufficient 10 net t4WD.WOO shall be
turned over en- bloc 10 the American com
pany" These are to be signed by the direc-
tor general Of the Chinese company and by the
Chinese Minister in Washington. The bonds
are 10 draw per cent interest and are 10 be
similar in form to the recent issue OF bonds
secured by the imperial Chinese customs" ex-
cent that they shall be first mortgage on the
railway instead of the imperial customs
building Of the road, with due regard 10 the
Chinese people and their customs, and FOR the
formal execution Of the terms Of the agreement.
At The office of r ". Whitridge. chairman OF
,hg Executive Committee Of the American China
DEVELOPMENT Company. at No. 50 broadway II was
SAID Yesterday that nothing more could be given
out there considering the company's request for
the moral support Of the Government In Its con-
tracts with China until the company's engineer
" BARCLAY Parsons returned from Washington
From other sources II was learned that one OF
the reasons and perhaps the chief one why me
Chgrase Government delaying 10 rum us con-
,raNf With The company is that French contractors
have been ofrerng 70 do the same work on yer ILLS
which are more pleasing 10 the chinese olhciais'
rpzNHE