A telegram from Your Lordship's Department informing me of the selection of Mr. Lindsey and enquiring if I concurred. I replied on June 16th. (see copies attached) asking whether the appointment had been made by the Indian Railway Board with whom I was in communication, and referring Your Lordship to my Despatch of 8th. May, 1909, which showed that I was (in accordance with your instructions) already in direct negotiation with India. On July 28th. I received a Despatch from India dated July 5th. (copy enclosed) informing me of the selection of a man - Mr. Lillie who appears to be exceptionally well qualified for the appointment and at the same time less costly than Mr. Lindsey. He would also presumably arrive sooner, and the negotiation of the Working Agreement is now becoming a matter of urgency.
3. I much regret that after all the courtesy of the Indian Railway Board in this matter, and the trouble they have taken, they should have been requested to cancel the appointment of Mr. Lillie, and I am at present at a loss to account for the misunderstanding which led to the selection of Mr. Lindsey after I had received your instructions to negotiate direct with the Indian Railway Board.