(20491).
Sir:-
Enclosure in No. 22218 IRFCD 22, ABCHURCH LANE) JUN 06 LONDON, E.C., June 15th, 1906. 429
We beg leave to acknowledge the receipt of and to thank you for your confidential letter No.19427 of the 11th instant, informing us that in the circumstances stated it does not appear to Sir Edward Grey to be unreasonable that the negotiations for the Canton Kowloon line should be taken first, and unless Mr. Carnegie considers it advisable to press for the immediate appointment of a negotiator for the Soo-chow Ningpo line, as to which he has given no indication, Sir Edward thinks it will be better to give the Chinese Government time to persuade the Chekiang Board in the matter.
The opinion of Sir Edward Grey expressed in the above named letter received, as you will see, the careful attention of the Board in considering and framing their answer to a further telegram from Mr. Bland which reached us from Peking on the 12th instant.
The Under Secretary of State, Foreign Office.