of the argument in Prince Ch'ing's Note is based
on
the English text, altogether ignoring the Chi-
nese version and the circumstances of the time, and
I trust that the argument by which I have endeavoured
to rebut His Highness' theory will be approved:
There still remaine in reserve another argument
which can be produced if necessary, namely that the
preliminary agreement of March, 1899, is the first
step towards fulfilling the undertaking contained
in the Convention of 9th June, 1898, that "when
hereafter China constructs a railway to the boundary
of the Kowloon territory under British control, ar-
rangements shall be discussed".
In connexion with the negotiations for the Can-
ton-Kowloon railway final agreement it may be useful
to refer to the stipulations contained in the cor-
respondence between my predecessor and the Tsungli
Yamen of 21st August to 14th September, 1898, (given
at pp. 287-289 of China No.1, 1899) by which the
Chinese Government undertook to give to British
Capitalists for the Canton-Kowloon,Soochow-Hangchow,
and P'uk'ou-Sinyang lines terme not inferior to
those of the Luhan Railway concession.
(Signed)
I have,&c.,
Ernest Satow,
those
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