537
Chinese should be in a position to play one country
off against another, and considered that a combination
should be formed of England, France, Germand and America
which should act together. In commenting upon the
resources and the power of the American group the Am-
bassador, I think, implied, though he did not say, that
its competition might be as damaging as its co-opera-
tion might be a source of strength.
The United States
With regard to the
Government held this general view.
Hankow-Szechuan line, arrangements, as he understood,
had been made only for the Hupei section, and the
American group might have a share in the extension.
I told him that the three groups had come to a
joint arrangement covering the whole line. I said
that the United States views and proposals must be ad-
justed by the financial groups interested and asked
him to let me have them in writing.