[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government16992
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL
[11106]
No. 1.
REC 488.
[April 8.]
13 MAY 08
SECTION 1,
Sir Edward Grey to Sir F. Bertie.
(No. 151.) Sir,
Foreign Office, April 8, 1908. WITH reference to my despatch No. 99 of the 22nd February, 1907, I have to inform your Excellency that on the 31st ultimo the French Ambassador called at this Office and inquired whether His Majesty's Government had any objection to an arrangement with regard to the Canton-Hankow and Peking-Hankow Railways, which had recently been come to at Paris, by Mr. Addis, acting on behalf of the British and Chinese Corporation, and M. Simon, acting on behalf of the French group.
The arrangement is as follows :-
The Agent in China of the British and Chinese Corporation to negotiate by himself the conditions of the Hankow-Canton Railway loan, and to sign the Agreement on behalf of the British and Chinese Corporation alone.
The French group to be admitted to a half participation in the loan, on the strength of a supplementary clause to this effect, to which the Chinese Government have informed the French Government that they will consent.
The English and French groups to combine to negotiate, should the Chinese Government so request, either together or separately, a loan for the redemption of the Peking-Hankow line.
The French group to occupy the same position in the Peking-Hankow Agreement as that occupied by the British and Chinese Corporation in the Canton-Hankow Agreement. This last proposal was, however, to be referred to the British and French Governments for settlement.
M. Cambon was informed that His Majesty's Government were quite prepared to accept these arrangements.
[2934 h-1]
I am, &c.
(Signed)
E. GREY.