Copy.
(17536)
C.O.
287
15843
G I MAY no
Paraphrase of Telegram from Sir J.Jordan to Sir
E.Grey, No.88, dated Peking, May 9th, 1909.
Please see your telegram No.85, last paragraph and
your telegram No.88.
In view of the meeting to take place in Paris to-
morrow I venture to suggest the following observations.
Both before and since Hillier's preliminary agree-
ment it was distinctly agreed between us that a clear
understanding about the Szechuan extension was essen-
tial if the Germans were given the Hupei section.
Hillier said that he thought that the point should
be settled in Europe and therefore did not raise it
with Cordès.
I do not think that it is clearly enough under-
stood by the HongKong Bank that it is due to the pro-
tests of His Majesty's Government that the Chinese
have not during the last two months concluded a final
agreement with the Germans, and it seems to me fairly
certain that unless our protests are removed the Chi-
nese Government do not intend to close with the Germans
about
Be