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Side note deps fre deistras

a m. 24 MAY

焙煎

wi hlunne

142

I have some doubt, it appears to me that the present is

not an opportune moment for putting it forward. One of

the objects of the proposed Loan is the redemption of

the Peking Rankow railway, but there is no evidence that

the Chinese wish to redeem it at present, and when they

do, they are likely to give the preference to the

Belgians with whose construction and management of the

line they profess to be highly satisfied,

The question of including the Germans in such a loan

would require careful consideration. We have already

admitted the French empty-handed to a share in our

privileged position at Hankow, and the arrangement hne

scarcely proved such a success as to justify its

extension. A combination of British French and German

markets would doubtless, ne Vr,Hillier states, hold the

door of foreign capital, but the Chinese, finding then-

selves *cornered", might let the door remain closed and

either abandon railway construction or carry it on in

their own way,

At all events I feel convinced that a multiplicity

of proposals is undesirable at present, Two railway

projects

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