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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
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[September 8. 1908
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL,
SECTION 2.
[31310]
No. 1.
Memorandum communicated to French Embassy, September 8, 1908.
COUNT DE MANNEVILLE called at the Foreign Office on the 27th August and spoke to Mr. Langley on the subject of the Memorandum on railway construction in China, which was drawn up here for Sir E. Grey's information on the 15th July last, and copy of which was communicated by him to the French Ambassador as an aide-mémoire.
Count de Manneville drew attention to a passage in the Memorandum in which reference was made to the alleged hostility of Chang Chih-Tung to French participation in the Hankow-Canton Railway Loan. The French Government, he said, wished us to know that in February last Chang Chih-Tung told the French Minister in Peking that he was not hostile to the French having a share in the loan. They had heard that Chang Chih-Tung had now been given a railway appointment in connection with the Hankow-Canton line, and thought it likely that the question of the loan might therefore be brought up for discussion shortly. They would be glad if Sir J. Jordan would make it clear that His Majesty's Government are in favour of French participation.
Sir E. Grey learns with satisfaction of the change of attitude on the part of Chang Chih-Tung, which should greatly facilitate the speedy conclusion of the joint Loan Agreement. Sir J. Jordan will be instructed to avail himself to the full of this change of attitude in his efforts to bring the negotiations for a joint Loan Arrangement to a satisfactory conclusion.
No information has so far reached the Foreign Office as to Chang Chih-Tung's having been given an appointment in connection with the Hankow-Canton line, but Sir J. Jordan will be instructed to report on this point.
Count de Manneville asked that Sir J. Jordan might be instructed to support M. Bapst's demand for a railway extension from Tai Yuan-Fu to Singan-Fu.
Sir J. Jordan has already been instructed to keep in close touch with his French colleague on this subject. Sir E. Grey trusts that these instructions may be considered as a proof of the good-will of His Majesty's Government, but regrets that in view of the many railway questions already outstanding with the Chinese Government he does not feel justified in taking a more active share in supporting a demand for a fresh Concession. He has repeatedly told the Chinese that if they would settle existing engagements he would not press them for new Concessions which were likely to be embarrassing to them, and he is reluctant to recede from this attitude.
Foreign Office, September 8, 1908.
[1940 h-2]
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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
F. O.
34816