This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
P. 34816 569
# CHINA RAILWAYS
## CONFIDENTIAL
[31310]
No. 1.
RECE[ived] September 20[8]
## SECTION 1.
(No. 428.) Sir,
Sir Edward Grey to Sir J. Jordan.
Foreign Office, September 8, 1908.
WITH reference to your private telegram of the 4th July, I transmit to you herewith a note of a conversation which Mr. Langley held recently with the French Chargé d'Affaires on the subject of railway construction in China and a copy of the Memorandum which I have forwarded to the French Embassy in reply.
Count de Manneville referred to the Memorandum respecting the Canton-Hankow Railway negotiations which was communicated to the French Embassy on the 15th July last (see China Railways, Confidential print, the 15th July, section 1), and drew attention to a passage in which the hostile attitude of the Chinese towards French participation in the loan was attributed to Chang Chih Tung. He stated that in February last Chang Chih Tung told the French Minister that he was not hostile to the French having a share, and that in view of Chang Chih Tung's appointment to a post in connection with the Hankow-Canton line, the French Government anticipated that the question of the loan would come up shortly for discussion, and hoped that you would make it clear to the Chinese that we are in favour of French participation.
I should be glad to have any information in your possession as to this alleged change of attitude on the part of Chang Chih Tung, and also as to the nature of the appointment on the railway to which the French Chargé d'Affaires refers. Should changed circumstances make it advisable, in your opinion, to address the Chinese Government in the sense suggested by the French Government, you may, of course, do so, but you will see that I have been careful in my reply to the French Embassy not to commit you to that course and to subordinate any action on your part to the truth of the allegation that the Grand Secretary's attitude towards French participation has really undergone a change.
With regard to the French Government's request for support in their demand for a Concession for the Tai-yuan-fu-Singan-fu extension, you will see that I have declined to take an active share in supporting a demand for this Concession, while calling attention to the instructions already sent to you to keep in close touch with your French colleague.
I am, &c.
(Signed) E. GREY.
*Note of conversation with Count de Manneville, August 27, 1908. † Memorandum communicated to French Embassy, September 8, 1908.
[1940 h-1]
Page 349
34816 570