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Chinese negotiators, who also objected to the insertion of a definite limit of time within which negotiations for the working agreement should be commenced, and the form given in Article 18 of the enclosed draft was substituted. I do not myself see objection to this Article 18 and I trust that Your Excellency will be able to accept it. As regards connection with the Canton-Hankow Railway neither Mr. Aland nor myself consider that the Chinese negotiators would agree to include a provision in the sense you desire, at any rate in the final loan agreement. The stipulation regarding rival lines contained in Article 17 of the printed draft, is, as you will see, embodied in Article 15 of the enclosed draft.
I have the honour to be,
Your Excellency's most obedient,
humble Servant
(Signed) J.N.Jordan