On special duty, but that his delegates after recognising formally the Preliminary Agreement had made on his behalf definite proposals which followed the general lines of the Northern Railways Loan Agreement, and had requested that if these proposals required modification it should be obtained at Peking.
The Governor of Hongkong added that he was in favour of the Corporation taking the Viceroy's proposals as a general basis for further discussion, if it were understood that a Joint Working Agreement satisfactory to the Government of the Colony should be simultaneously concluded.
Mr. Bland thereupon came to Peking with the object of consulting with Sir E. Satow and also in order to see the Director General of the Shanghai-Nanking Railway on matters of business connected with that line.
His understanding with the Viceroy's delegates having been that while His Excellency now admitted the binding force of the Preliminary Agreement, he was prepared to abide by such arrangements for the Final Agreement.
Page 492