Diplomatic Body Gravely Concerned; Bondholders' Interests Set at Nought by Militarists Peking, Feb. 12.
Sir H. E. W. J. Oudendijk, the Netherlands Minister, and doyen of the Diplomatic Corps in Peking, went the following Note to-day to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs:—Monsieur lo Vice-Ministre, Already on many occasions have the heads of the Legations felt the necessity of drawing the serious tention of the Chinese Government the interruption of the regular'
This interruption has jeansed very considerable losses to the mercantile classes in China, both Chinese and foreign. At the same. time it has created the greatest inconvenience to the public generally.
Deplorable as this "tate of things: was—as all the other consequences
the heads of the Legations trust-the Accent state of internal war fed that once wer operations were at an end, the Government would lore no time in restoring normal conditions on the railways, and this Promote the public welfare and heal
operations. the wounds infered by the military They feel. however, greatly concerned to witness the continuance of a state of affairs, which if not promptly checked may. threaten to become permanent, and not only throttle the economic development of the country but, inflict lasting injuries on Chinese and foreign trade and interests, These latter are not confined to the use of the railways for the transportation of merchandise, foodstuff and coal. Foreign interests are closely tied up with the railways. themselves. Not only are these railways indebted to foreign suppliers for equipment supplied and actually use to the amount of tens of} jons of dollars, but for hundreds of millions of dollars bondholders of all terested in the fate of the Chinese Government railways. fen without delay from the hands of the military commanders, who now exploit them for their own account, and the revenue be again allowed to flow into its Proper channels, it is evident that the Chinese Government railways before long will become insolvent. Furthermore, the railway equipment, much of which is, as stated above, still unpaid for, at the present time fs destroyed or has been allowed to fall into disrepair, and the very. deplorable condition of the locomotives, passenger cars and freight trucks is known to all, and need not. be here dose Foreign Diplomats Alarmed Moreover, tracks have been neglected, and' bridges, "culverts and other works damaged, and in some leases even have become dangerous. Both the financial and the material condition of the railways is thus seen to have been made desperate.
The foreign diplomatic representatives cannot but express to the Chinese Government their grave Japprehension at this deplorable state of affairs, whose far-reading Jconsequences at this moment can hardly be estimated, and they feel it their duty to tender their most: earnest advice that steps be taken forthwith to re-establish normal (Tupan to the Kiabsien delegation conditions on all Government rail-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.