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238
Peking (Bertanovo ideas)
Dear Sir Matthew,
I am sending the minute of discussions in the Canton Kowloon negotiations regarding Matheson & Co. and their requisitions to communicate the same to you in due course. Having a spare copy of the record of last meeting, of which matters reached what looks like a deadlock unintentionally caused by the Chinese, I now enclose it so that you may be in possession of the information as well.
Having adopted a basis of negotiations similar to that of the Sapi Ho northern railway loan, we are ipso facto prevented from accepting many of the conditions contemplated in our original proposals, which were based on the Waanking agreement. For this reason, the Chinese claim to portions, for settlement and to the Kowloon agreement, such matters as freight charges, cheap rates, the holding of these by the Corporation in the Lakin, are no longer concerned. They claim absolute control and a free hand in these matters. It is a matter for regret, in the interests of all concerned, including the Chinese, that we are not encouraged to adhere to the terms of the Waanking agreement, for the difficulties of the present situation are our quota.
Yours sincerely,
(signed) EOP Bland
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