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421 C.O.
Governl 78,99
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government]
RECE Race 27 MAY 09)
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[17037)
No. 1.
[May 5.]
SECTION 1.
Dear Sir Francis,
Mr. C. S. Addis to Foreign Office.-(Received May 5.)
31, Lombard Street, London, May 4, 1969.
I INCLOSE a copy of a telegram just received from Hillier, together with a draft of my reply, which I hope meets with your approval.
I am very unwilling to approach Berlin in the matter, because I feel sure that the Germans are trying to manceuvre us into the position of accepting a British engineer for the first section of the Hankow-Canton line in exchange for a German engineer on the first section of the Hankow-Szechuan. To demand a British engineer for the whole Hankow-Canton line would only precipitate that conclusion by provoking a similar demand for a German engineer over the whole Hankow-Szechuan line. That is the bargain, I am afraid, the Germans will try to strike-an equivalent British section for an equivalent German section.
On the other side, I am rather afraid of giving Hillier, in his present Germanophile temper, a free hand to come to an arrangement with Cordes; he might be tempted to give too much away.
I have accordingly left it to Hillier to take the initiative at Peking by making the offer, limiting at the same time its scope to the terms which have already received your sanction.
May I assume that, unless I hear from you to contrary before 4 o'clock, you have no objection to the proposed telegram being dispatched to Mr. Hillier to-night, nor any suggestions to make?
Yours truly, (Signed) C. S. ADDIS.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Mr. Hillier to Mr. C. S. Addis.
(Telegraphic.)
Peking, May 4, 1909, REFERRING to your telegram of 3rd. Deutsch-Asiatische Bank inform us Berlin replies they expect London make first move with reference to foregoing; in our opinion, it is very important not to delay negotiations. In order to remove impasse, we suggest authorize E. G. Hillier make best arrangements possible Cordes, who is telegraphing for similar authority to Berlin.
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Mr. C. S. Addis to Mr. Hillier.
(Telegraphic.)
London, May 4, 1909.
RE your wire of 4th. We suggest that you should take the initiative by offering German engineer Hupeh section Hankow-Szechuan Railway, provided Germans agree to British engineer Hankow-Canton Railway.
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