320
it was hoped, therefore, that the French and German groups
would, as on a former occasion, offer no objection to let
the British representative sign by himself.
The separa-
tion of the financial and constructional clemente of the
contract, between the English on the one band and the
French and German Groups on the other, could then be auto-
matically effected by a postscriptum or additional clause
to the Agreement, admitting the French and Germans to
financial participation only. If not, a subsidiary agree-
ment with the Germans, similar to that already signed with
the French, recognising the British preferential rights with regard to engineers and material, would be sufficient.
It must be sâmitted that the scheme, as proposed, of-
fered but a glender chance of success, but no other had been
suggested and for want of a better it was decided to give it
a trial.
Negotiations were accordingly opened by myself, as
representative of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, with the French Group at Paris on the 25th January 1909 and contin-
ued with the German Group at Berlin on the 29th January.
The basis of negotiation was stated in the following
memorandum, a copy of which was submitted to the French
and Gerican Groups respectively:
1.