Copy.
C.O.
9746 653
Rece Real 20 MAR OF
Paraphrase of Telegram from Sir J. Jordan, Peking.
No.63, dated March 16th, 1909.
Hankow-Canton Railway Loan.
Your telegram No.45.
I have examined the question exhaustively with the
French Minister; no instructions have however been sent
to him. The Germans, we assume, will communicate with us
as soon as their instructions reach them and state what
support they require and the nature of their difficulties.
Pending Lids we find it difficult to choose our course
of action and we think it would be a grave mistake to ap-
proach Germans before they communicate with us. They
should experience no difficulty in finding reasons for
withdrawing if they really wish to do so. The French
Minister is persuaded that Germans have no intention of
withdrawing their offer, and it appears from our informa-
tion, which we cannot however guarantee to be accurate that
the negotiations are being actively prosecuted by German
agent who is actively engaged in drawing up the Final
Agreement.