City.
No 15.
:)
Enclosus No 3-s
From Covent Gunel Cantor to Govoner Høgkong
6
C.0.
6675
REC
Red 24 FEB 06
H.M.Consulate-General,
one 17.
Canton 17th. January
1908. 90
Sir,
I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of
Your Excellency's Despatch of the 15th. instant, enclosing keno- -randum from Messrs. Jardine, Matheson and Company on behalf of the British and Chinese Corporation, in respect to the Canton-
Kowloon Kallway.
As regards the question of the translation of the last article of the Agreement, the word 'arrangements' in the phrase 'necessary arrangements' if rendered 'amendments', leaving the rest of the English text as it stands, would be more in strict accord with the Chinese text. but no matter which word is used, the idea and sense is practically the same, namely, it refers only to minor details of local conditions,
There is no justification for the viceroy
putting a forced construction on the text, authorising his to annui the Agreement, as he now proposes. besides, the Agreement, whether 'preliminary' or 'draft' has been duly sanctioned by the Chinese Government as also oy Imperial dict.
I propose taking an early opportunity, after the Chinese Holidays are over and the Official Seals re-opened,
from my
to address the Viceroy 10 the above sense. Eut I know, past experience of his attitude, that His Excellency will not be amenable to either argument or reason.
Excellency
ir Matthew Nathan, K.C..G.,
Hongkong.
I have etc.,
) Jares Scott,
Consui-General.
S