*
Mis
33
not judge properly till the Viceroy took them into his
confidence.
The main points of this conversation wore telegraphed
by me the same day (July 5) to His linjesty's Consul
General at Hankow with directions that Mr.Hillier should
impress on the Vicaroy the necessity of telegraphing
fully and frankly to the Wai Wu Pu, and on the 7th inst.
I learnt from Mr.Prager that the Viceroy had sent for
him and Mr.Hillier "as he feared that there might be
difficulties of legalization of the loan". Mr. Fraser
asked further whether, in the event of the Viceroy break-
ing off negotiations on the plea of participation by the
French, he would be justified in suggesting that there
might be other British financiem who are free to not
alone. Mr.Fraser apprehended that unless he took some
Buch step the Viceroy would consider himself at liberty
to regard his obligation towards us as discharged.
To this I replied on the same day (July 7) that the
Viceroy could hardly maintain his attitude regarding
French participation since the Wai Wu Pu offered no
objection