555
It should be borne in mind that the preliminary
contract for the line was signed in 1898.
The posi-
tion therefore is that, after letting the matter rest
for close on seven years, the Chinese Government, have
been now approached with a proposal for a final agree-
ment into which an entirely now elegent has been in-
troduced by the intention to work as one railway the
two sections which will be respectively in British
and Chinese territory.
It is therefore only reasonable that the Chinese
Government should take time to consider the proposal
and to consult His Excellency Sheng, Director General
of Railways.
Sir E. Satow has howover been instructed by tele-
graph to clearly indicate to the Chinese Government
that His Majesty's Government expect the matter to
be settled with expedition, and trust that the delays
which have occurred previously in regard to railway
negotiations and which wore due to the procrastination
of
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