P
132
2
Sir E. Grey would be glad to be favoured with the observations of the Board on the matter. I am also to express the hope that the Board will take into consideration the more general side of the question referred to in the last paragraph of Sir J. Jordan's despatch, No. 296, of the 20th June last, viz., the question of the right to recognition, as owners of British ships, of British Companies registered in Hong Kong, having British directors and a preponderance of British capital, but with their principal places of business at Treaty ports in China.
A copy of a further despatch from Sir J. Jordan is inclosed,* to be laid before the Board, in which it is requested that an authoritative decision may be furnished as the question is one which may arise at any moment in an acute form.
I am, &c. (Signed)
F. A. CAMPBELL.
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.] O.
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL
[23267]
No. 1.
34181
RECS [July 16:] 25 SEP OF
SECTION 7.
* Sir J. Jordan, No. 318, July 4, 1907.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey,—(Received July 15.)
(No. 140.) (Telegraphic.) P.
Peking, July 14, 1907. WITH reference to my telegram No. 129 of the 1st instant on the subject of the Tien-tsin-Chinkiang Railway negotiations, Mr. Cordes informs me that he had a formal meeting yesterday with Liang, with the result that a firm offer to furnish Government loan for the construction of the line will be given to the Syndicates by the Chinese Government. The security for the loan will be other Government revenues, not the railway. The Chinese Government will have control both during and after construction, and a German engineer-in-chief will be appointed for the Commission on northern, a British engineer-in-chief for the southern section. materials and participation in profits to be commuted, but preference to be given on respective sections to British and German materials.
Cordes has telegraphed the outline of the scheme, the details of which will be elaborated by the beginning of August, to Berlin. As the Syndicates, in my opinion, are not likely to get better terms, they will, I presume, agree in principle.
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