[B]
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL,
(6957)
No. 1.
427
18 MAR 10,
[February 28.]
SECTION 2.
(No. 48.) Sir,
Sir E. Goschen to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received February 28.)
Berlin, February 25, 1910.
I HAVE the honour to report that the " Kreuz-Zeitung," in its issue of the 23rd instant, published a private telegram from Peking, entitled "British Intrigues," to the effect that it was generally thought in official circles in Peking that the British and French representatives had set themselves the task of wrecking the project of the Chinchowfu-Aigun Railway. In order to prevent Germany from deriving any advantages from the bed of the Yang-tsze Kiang, England and France had frustrated the scheme of the loan for the construction of the Hankow-Canton-Szechuan Railway. now they were doing their best to make the Chinchowfu-Aigun section the victim of their international intrigues. The dishonest policy of England did not escape the notice of the Chinese. It showed up to them not only the hollowness of England's constant assurances that everything was being done to assist the development of China, but it also made it clear how easily England sacrificed the interests of her own subjects when she was aiming at attaining a particular end. America, the telegram concludes, was the State that profited by the action of England and France, for, in face of the intrigues of these two Powers, the Chinese were realising more and more clearly that America was China's only real friend.
I have, &e.
W. E. GOSCHEN.
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