C.O
31855
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
Rece
Pro? 25 SEP 09 [September 3.]
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
SECTION 1.
488
[33087]
(No. 143.)
(Telegraphic.) R.
No. 1.
Sir Edward Grey to Sir J. Jordan.
Foreign Office, September 3, 1909.
MY telegram No. 141 of Ist September: Railway loan. The only difficulty now would appear to be owing to the disinclination of the German group to make any sacrifice in regard to the engineer for the Hupeh section of the Szechuan line, so as to allow of equal participation of the four Powers.
We still think that the whole Szechuan line from Hankow should, as nearly as possible, be equally divided among the four Powers as regards engineers as well as in other respects, and that the agreement with the Chinese should be modified so as to permit of Americans signing it; and that China should further undertake, as regards extension beyond Ichang, if the whole matter cannot be settled now, to apply to the four Powers for capital required. The Chinese would surely find it difficult to refuse this, if proposal were backed by the four Powers concerned,
If you concur, I would suggest this to French and German Governments.
[2413 c-1]