I am in no way anxious that the negotiations for the Canton Kowloon Railway should be in the hands of Sheng Kung, pão, and I took the opportunity to impress upon Na J'ung privately the importance of exercising the greatest care in the selection of a suitable person to negotiate the railway agreement, and to administer the railway during construction and after. Such a person, I pointed out, had large opportunities of manipulating transactions in land and local materials, to his enhancing the price of profit but to the serious detriment of the railway.
Under the circumstances mentioned by His Excellency Na Jung, the truth of which I have no reason to doubt, it appears to me that the negotiations relating to the Canton Kowloon Line would not be hastened at the moment by any action of mine at the Wai wu pu, and I do not propose to take any further step until Sheng's position is decided one way or the other. This should only be a matter of a few days.
If I were to exert pressure at this juncture it is more than likely that the effect would be to assist him out of his difficulties and this is a contingency of which, in view of his past attitude towards British interests and enterprises, I wish to run no risk.
A copy of this despatch has been sent to the Governor of Hong Kong.
I have the honour to be
with the highest respect
my Lord,
Your Lordship's most obedient, humble Servant,
(signed) Ernest Satow
C.O. 27696
British Legation
Peking
176
I am in no way anxious that the negotiations for the Canton Kowloon Railway should be in the hands of Sheng Kung, pão, and I to the the opportunity to impress upon Na J'ung
the privately the importance of exercising greatest care in the selection of a suitable ferson to negotiate the railway agreement, and to administer the railway during construction and after. Such a person, I pointed out, had large opportunities of manipulating transactions in land and local materials, to his enhancing the price of
profit but to the serious detriment of the railway.
own
Under the circumstances mentioned by this Excellency Na Jung, the bruth of which I have no reason to doubt, it appears to me that the negotiations relating to the Canton Kowloon Line would not be hastened at the moment by any action of mine at . the Wai wa pu, and I do not propose to take any further step until Sheng's
position
C.O.
27696
British Legation
position is decided one way
be a matter
This should only
176
Peking
or the other. matter of a few days.
If I were to exert pressure at this juncture it is more than likely that the effect would be to assist him out of his difficulties and this is a contingency of which, in view of his past attitude towards British Interests and enterprises. I wish to ven no risk.
a copy of this despatch has been sent to the governor of Kong Kong.
I have the honour to be
with the highest respect
my Lord,
Your Lordship's most obedient, humble
(signed) Ernest Satow
Servant,
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