The preparation and conclusion of the general Agreements contemplated in Clanses 8 and 9 of the above-named No. 1 Agreement were discussed, and it being considered that these Agreements could be dealt with by correspondence, it was arranged that the British & Chinese Corporation and the Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corporation would submit drafts to the several Groups as quickly as possible.
With the object of preventing any misconception, Mr. Addis stated. that although the British Group were receiving the exclusive support of the British Government in regard to the business concerning which an under- standing between the Groups had now been reached, viz., the Hankow. Canton and Hankow-Chengtu Kailways, they, the British Group (including the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation), could not rely upon the exclusive, although they confidently expected the general support of the British Government in regard to the future business contemplated in the proposed general Agreements.
FOR THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GERMAN GROUP,
Minutes of the Meeting at the Offices of the Deutsch-Asiatische Bank, Berlin, on 13 May, 1909; read and approved at the Meeting on 14th May, 1909.
Present:-
MR. UREIG,
>
ERICH,
READERS,
11
CARL MEYER,
11
21
Representing the German Group,
C. S. Annis,
{
Representing the British Group,
8. SIMON,
ULLMANN,
Representing the French Group.
FRANZ URBIG.
FOR THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE BRITISH GROUP,
C. S. ADDIS.
FOR THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE FRENCH GROUP,
I
S. SIMON.
is
X
E
!
Mr. URBIG took the chair.
It was decided to proceed with the discussion of the particular proposal cabled from Peking on 7 May prior to proceeding with the discussion of a general arrangement.
The French Group submitted that the Peking proposal did not preserve the principle of equality on which the whole of the negotiations had been based, in so far as a German preference in regard to materials was claimed in respect of the IInpeh section of the Hankow- Chengtu line, while the British and French Groups would have to share the Hukuang section of the Hankow-Canton Railway between them.
A discussion then took place as to the length and termini of the respective sections, and it was decided to cable to China for this information.
The draft agreement prepared by the German Group to be entered into with the Chinese Government was then laid before the meeting and read, considered and approved in principle, subject to slight modifications and to the demand of the French Group that they should appear as parties to such agreement on equal terms with the German and British Groups. It was also agreed that the security proposed was not entirely satisfactory and that efforts should be made to improve it.
The question of the Internationalisation of the Loan was then raised, and while a general consensus in favour of such a course was expressed the British Group pointed out that in principle they could not agree to share in the stamp duties of other countries, and the German Group in these circumstances also declined to do so.
In reply to Mr. Urbig both the British and French Groups declared that neither directly nor indirectly had they given information of any kind to the Press or otherwise after the meeting in Paris, and that they were as much surprised as the German Group at the announcement that had appeared in the Times,
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