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No further mention was made of the earlier demand and the articles of the agreement were all drawn on lines of the August 1900 agreement under which Hupoi borrowed Taels 500,000 from the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank for the provision of military needs for the protection of the Yangtze. The Agreement has been communicated to the Board of Foreign Affairs.
Certainly, this borrowing does not imply the slightest lending of our railway rights.
The loan being settled, the second instalment was thereupon paid over in full to the Development Company on the due date, 10th October.
Thereupon, the Company telegraphed to the foreigners at its offices in Shanghai and Canton to hand over, by list, to China's deputies the plans and records deposited. In Shanghai and Canton, the railway already built, with machinery, cars, houses, and buildings, and all appurtenances whatever.
I had sent officers for the purpose to both places.
The agreement for the sale of the railway drawn up with the Company states that "The Chinese Government takes possession of all the China Development Company's properties in China, the railway completed, plant, survey maps and plans, special mining privileges, together with all rights and privileges in China, whether set forth or impliedly included". Consideration of the words "special" to "included" will indicate how immense was the former great loss of rights which now happily is entirely redeemed so that hereby