623
知
letter from this Department to the British and Chinese
Corporation, dated January 6th. 1906, stating that Sir
201706
E. Grey was disposed to inform the French Ambassador
that His Majesty's Government agreed in principle to
the proposal that a French group should cooperate on
equal terms except for the British Chairman's casting
vote, but would prefer to leave the arrangement of the
details to the groups themselves. The reply of the
Corporation, dated January 11th. 1906, expressing con-
currence in this view and referring to the fact that an
agreement had already been reached by the groups was
also communicated to you. In view of the previous
correspondence and the known views of the French Govern-
ment in the matter, this agreement could only have been
reached upon the basis of equal participation, and as
at that time no protest was raised by your Department
it was assumed that the Secretary of State for the
Colonies concurred in what had passed and a communica-
tion was made to the French Ambassador expressing the
concurrence of His Majesty's Government in the agree-
ment.
Sir E. Grey regrets that a copy of this Memor-
andum