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Article 21.
Not discussed.
Article 22 & 23.
MR BLAND pointed out that the loan agreement would not be possible in England if the Chinese text were authoritative, nor could it be signed before the issue of the sanctioning Edict.
The Canton Viceroy's proposals having now been discussed seriatim,
MR BLAND observed that if the existing difficulties as regards price and commission on materials could be met by the Chinese Government's endorsing the Canton Viceroy's fair and reasonable conditions, the conclusion of the agreement should not entail any great delay; if not, he feared the negotiations had reached a deadlock. There were certain further points to be brought forward, arising out of the Corporation's draft agreement, but he thought it would be better to allow them to stand over until an agreement were come to on the essential conditions.
H.E. TANG SHAO-YI hoped that the Corporation would see its way to accepting the Chinese Government's terms, i.e. a loan at ... and commission on importations from England.
The Meeting then adjourned, it being understood that the Board's reply would be communicated when received.
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