Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-07-15
APPEAL TO THE GOVERNMENT
ASK THAT CHINA BE REQUIRED To
CARRY OUT AGREEMENT.
This Syndicate Contracted With Chi
nese Government to Build n Rail-
road From Canton to Ham
lKow for n Cash Subsidy
of $20,ooO,O 900.

WASHINGTON, July 1L-Secretary Hay
received call to-day from w. Barclay
Parsons, the engineer representing the
- American railway concessionaires controll-
ing the projected railroad from Canton to
Hankow, China. Mr.. Parsons explained at
some length to the secretary the obstacles
in carrying out the concession. The Chi
nese government is ostensibly held to be
obstructing the concessionaires, but be-
hind that government. and urging 1t un-
willingly on Its course, are foreign infiu-
ences, according to Mr.. Parsons. which are
striving to secure for themselves this con-
cession.
Mr.. Parsons represented that an English
company holding the concession for line
from Canton to Kow Loon was prepared
TO unite interests with the American cor
poration and effect combination to main
tain themselves against these foreign in
fuences. The British government would
naturally look after the interests of its
subjects and the American corporation
asks Secretary Hay to take similar action
TO require the Chinese government to per-
NIT the execution of the concession.
Secretary Hay promised to lay the mat
ter before the president.
The American minister in Picking has al
ready been instructed TO use his good Of
fees in ali proper ways in behalf OF the
to its interests. There is no foundation for
the report that this action is taken in con-
currence with that OF the British govern
ment. There has been no communication
between the two governments in regard to
the matter, and no joint action has been
asked for by the American company and
none has been recommended. The tradi-
tional policy, of the state department has
been pursued in this as in other cases. the
American diplomatic representatives being
charged to assist, in every way, American
interests in the countries to which they
are accredited. In cases of competition be-
tween different American enterprises, the
minister is warned not to favor one at the
: expense of the other, but to exert his good
offices in all cases of contracts and COM
petitions so that American interests shall
have an equal chance with those of other
countries.
The Chinese minister, Mr. WI Ting Fang,
stated to-day that he has not been advised
in an official manner of the combination
between British and American companies
having certain concessions in China, or of
any appeal to the respective governments,
and he did not care to discuss the effect
or significance of such moves until he had
learned of them in an official manner. The
minister is deeply interested in everything
that relates to the American concession,
as It was granted through him in April
1898. after extended conferences with sew
eral representatives of the late Senator
Brice.
In the original concession granted to the
American company itus stated that a Chi
nese company Is engaged in the construc-
ton of railways under imperial sanction,
with Shing Tagan as director general. The
81 latter gives WI Ting Fang, Chinese min
tster here, authority TO make arrangements
with American concerns. The agreement
recites that the American China Develop
ment Company agrees to provide as a
loan fer the construction of the railway
from the city of Hankow to the city of
Canton the sum of e4. 900 900 or its eQuiva-
lent in American dollars, gold, or more If
necessary, for the building and eQuipping
of said road"
The e4.OO0, 600 is to be paid in installments
as the work progresses and the first In
stallment is paid when the report of the
. engineer-in-chief of the American company
shall be accepted by the company and ap-
proved by the director general, Shing Ia
gan. -
Article 2 of the concession provides that
"to secure the amount, local imperial
Chinese bonds sufficient to net 940Oo.oOC
shall be turned over en- bloc to the Amer
lean company" These are to be signed by
? the director general of the Chinese COM
. pany and by the Chinese minister IN WASH
ingtorl. The bonds are to draw per cent
interest and are to be similar IN form
TO the recent issue Of bonds secured by
the imperial Chinese customs" except that
they shall be first mortgage on the rail
way instead of on the imperial customs.
- Provision is made at much length as to the
building of the road with due regard to
the Chinese people and their customs and
for the formal execution of the terms OF
the aRTaRment.