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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.j
← CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[17479]
C.O.
[May 14.]
22029
SECTION 1.
RECE
No. 1 Reef 2 JUL 09
Sir,
Foreign Office to Messrs. Pauling and Co.
Foreign Office, May 14, 1909. I AM directed by Secretary Sir Edward Grey to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 7th instant, requesting him to take such steps as may be considered advisable to be helpful to your firm in case, when the survey of the Chinchow- Taonanfu Railway is completed, the Japanese put a veto upon the carrying out of the contract.
In reply I am to observe that it is clearly impossible for Sir E. Grey to give a guarantee that the Japanese will not object to the scheme. His Majesty's Minister, as you have already been informed, has been instructed to give all the help he properly can; but, before deciding what kind of help can be given, it will be necessary to consider the circumstances as they arise.
I am, &c.
W. LANGLEY.
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