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Jay 12 FEB 04
February 26pp, 1904
FOREIGN OFFICE,
I am directed by the Marquess of Lansdowne to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No.3496/1904 of the 4th instant, in which you inclose a despatch from the acting Governor of Hong Kong urging that His Majesty's Government would do well to acquire a substantial interest in the Hankow-Canton railway.
I am to state, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that so far as Lord Lansdowne is aware, there has never been any question of His Majesty's Government acquiring an interest in the Hankow-Canton line, and that there is no prospect of such a proposal being favourably entertained by the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury.
You also inclose a copy of a despatch from the acting Governor expressing sympathy with the views entertained by the Hongkong Branch of the China Association as to the necessity of proceeding with the construction...
in Lord Lansdowne's hands but he cannot but regard it as of great importance that the American concession should not fall into Belgian & Prussian hands. Copy is also sent of a confidential despatch of [XCR(85)72] respecting a proposal for the construction of a line from ChinKiang to the Kwangtung frontier.
Draft for consideration.
Construction.
Let Sir M. Nathan see the draft.
CPL 13 at once.
32
Sir:-
TER FOR USE",
ESTERN.
No.
89
COLONIAL OFFICE.
C.O. 573/68
Under Secretary of State,
Colonial Office.
4
2.5
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