433
*
practically passed out of his hands and the question
became one rather for diplomatic treatment, as Mon-
sieur Cambon has stated. Mr. Hillier's endeavours
were directed towards finding a way out of the dead-
lock, and it was only with this object in view that
he suggested the conclusion of a contract in the
name of the British Syndicate alone, subject to a
division of results between the various parties in-
terested.
It must be pointed out that although the French
group form part of the Chinese Central Railways and
will share in any business or enterprise undertaken
by that Syndicate, their association with the Brit-
ish and Chinese Corporation is so far limited to the
Canton-Hankow Railway, a preference in regard to
which