C.O.
86
12611
IREC
Paraphrase of Telegram from Sir J. Jora 40 B.Grey
No. 75, dated April 8th. 1909.
Canton-Hankow Railway loan.
See your telegrams 70 and 71 of the 6th, and 7th.
instant.
Mr. Hillier acting on my advice saw Liang private-
ly on the 6th. instant and offered the suggestion as
coming from himself that, rather than risk a diplomatic
conflict with His Majesty's Government, the Chinese
Government should modify their agreement with the Ger-
mans so as to admit all parties, by giving authority
to the Chief Engineer to sign certificates of expendi-
ture.
Liang promised that he would consider the sugges-
tion, but having regard to the present state of public
opinion in China said that he thought it impracticable.
We might advantageously utilize Hillier's services
if the Chinese approach us.
Neither they nor the Ger-
mans are likely to treat with the British and Chinese
Corporation, the former on account of the failure of
the