[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
C.0.
13950
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[12272]
No. 1.
RECE REG 24 APR 09
[March 29.]
SECTION 2.
150
Papers communicated by Mr. C. S. Addis, March 29, 1909.
(1.)
Mr. Bland to Mr. C. S. Addis.
(Telegraphic.)
Peking, March 29, 1909. WITH reference to your wire of 27th, E. G. Hillier, Hong Kong and Shanghae Banking Corporation.
M. Casenave at interview with Cordes 28th March urged delay of signature for a few days in hopes of negotiations on your side. It may result in agreement and avert irreparable blow to futuro relations. Cordes pleaded pressure by the Chinese, but promises delay as far as possible, and will notify us when about to sign. Our impression is pressure actually originated with German Minister, Peking, who is anxious to secure diplomatic success; and we recommend ask Foreign Office, London, Foreign Office, Paris, use every endeavour induce Foreign Office, Berlin, instruct German Minister, Peking, defer action. In the meantime we recommend try to arrange further meeting at earliest possible date.
(2.)
Mr. Bland to Mr. C. S. Addis.
(Telegraphic.)
Peking, March 29, 1909. Cordes informs us privately Chinese Government are favourably disposed to international loan. Our opinion is, if you can do so, come to an understanding at once. Matter can be arranged here, but it is necessary to act promptly. Austrian pressing offer same terms Chinese Government Gold Loan, 1908.
(3.)
M. Urbig to Mr. C. S. Addis.
ry
Dear Mr. Addis,
Berlin, March 27, 1909.
re
As long
I HAVE received your telegrams, as per copy inclosed. My letter of the 25th must have been somewhat misunderstood by you. as our negotiations for an understanding with your and the French group are pending, our Syndicate cannot sign a Final Agreement for the Hankow-Canton business. It is, of course, to be understood, and it is quite in accordance with my verbal declaration, that we would have to declare further negotiations with the two groups as hopeless, and that we would have to retire from these negotiations, before we can take any steps which connect with the signature of the Final Agreement. No instructions for a signature have yet been given to Peking, and I cannot-according to the tenor of my letter of the 25th-acknowledge the justification of the protest contained in your first telegram and the character attributed to further attempts to arrive at an under- standing.
As to your second telegram, I may mention that the German evening papers of the 18th March have published the following notice :----
"Der Times' wird unter dem 16. dieses Monats aus Peking telegraphiert, die zwischen der chinesischen Regierung und der Deutsch-Asiatischen Bank eingeleiteten Verhandlungen wegen des Abschlusses einer Auleihe von 15 Millionen Dollars für die Kanton-Hankow-Balin hätten in englischen und französischen Interessentenkreisen eine solche Opposition hervorgerufen, dass die Zurückziehung der Offerte zu erwarten sei."
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