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This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINESE RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
246
C.O. 15433
[March 1.]
SECTION 1.
LEGO 7 MAY O
No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received March 1.)
[8169]
(No. 53.) (Telegraphic.) P.
CANTON-Hankow Railway.
Peking, March 1, 1909.
The present state of the negotiations does not, in my opinion, render it particularly necessary to come to any arrangement with the Germans such as is indicated in your telegram No. 37 of the 27th instant, for I am inclined to believe that the Chinese do not propose to put our claims aside. I gather from a letter sent to me on the 27th instant by Chang Chih-tung that we may be able to settle the matter on terms similar to those of the Tien-tsin-Pukow line. It would seem to me on the whole advisable to agree to such a solution in preference to insisting upon Canton-Kowloon Railway terms, thereby risking the postponement of the question for an unlimited period.
I have informed Mr. Bland of the steps which are being taken to arrange for German participation, and the British and Chinese Corporation will submit to you the telegram he has sent them independently expressing his views.
[2193 a--1]