C.O
596
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.121011
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
RECO
EC 24 JUN 09
[June 4.]
SECTION 1.
[20867]
No. 1.
Sir Edward Grey to Sir J. Jordun.
(No. 106.) (Telegraphic.) P.
Foreign Office, June 4, 1909. RAILWAY loan. Please see your telegrams Nos. 100, 101, and 102. In the circumstances described, we concur in the agreements being signed at once. The elimination, however, of the British and Chinese Corporation, in whose name the agreements were concluded with the French and German groups, and with whom there is under negotiation a general agreement for railway business in China, has a very unfortunate appearance. At Berlin and Paris, where so recently assurances have heen given that the Corporation had in this case the exclusive support of His Majesty's Government, it must bring about a serious loss of prestige for the British group. You should endeavour to keep Liang to his promise, described in your telegram No. 102 of the 4th instant. We must do our best to prevent the elimination of the corporation from having the effects both in China and in Europe which are anticipated.
Whatever the personal relations and views of the agents in China of the corpora- tion and the bank may be, I am assured that there is no difference of opinion between the corporation and the bank themselves.
[2317 d-1]
E