{
!
535
E
The reply which I have returned is similar to that
given by you to the United States Chargé d'Affaires and
have added that in December 1905 we regarded the Ameri-
can offer as having lapsed and so informed the Embassy
privately.
I further pointed out that as far as British fl-
nanciers were concerned, it was clear that they were
entitled to act independently and could not be expected
to do otherwise after what had passed at the same time
that nothing was further from our intention than to
prejudice any obligations or rights existing between
China and the United States.
2.