[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
2
of England, America, France, and Germany in connection with the Chinese business, you would like to see that Japanese bankers approach to it, not through France, but directly through England, the Japanese allied nation; that is to say, to take all necessary steps through Hong Kong and Shanghac Banking Corporation. In that case, you said that the said financial group will give a participation to Japanese bankers and you favoured me with a copy of the agreements of the said financial group. Thereupon, I said to you that this is a matter under consideration on the part of the Japanese Government. In the case that Japanese bankers decided to join the said financial group, I will make them, according to your suggestion, to ask the participation through the English banker. Then I also added that this was originated while I was in Paris. The French Minister of Finance told me that-- 'whenever the English, American, French, and German syndicate undertakes any business with the Chinese Government in connection with her railroad, we must apprehend that the Japanese might raise an objection to it. Therefore it is our wishes that the Japanese Government would instruct her Minister in Peking to advise the Chinese Government with a favourable attitude toward such an undertaking of the syndicate, and that the Japanese would also enter into co-operation with the said syndicate, &c.' Immediately I cabled this interview to the Japanese Government, and I was informed that the Government at once instructed the Japanese Minister in Peking to give assistance to the said syndicate, and that the Government will also consider about the Japanese co-operation with the syndicate. I communicated to the French Minister of Finance this correspondence with my Government, and I received from him his grateful recognition. On that day I talked over with you privately about all these matters.
"Now there is a report that the provisional agreement is being made by American capitalists in supplying capital to the Chinese Government. The Japanese money market, now being in quite different situation from what it was in the former years, there is a group of Japanese capitalists who wish to join the English, French, and German syndicate for the Chinese business. So in pursuance with our understanding in the former year, I now wish to consult with you with a view of joining to the syndicate. If you deem it necessary for the Japanese Government to enter into negotiations with the English Foreign Office on this matter, please let me know the important points for such negotiation, as I will take due steps.--TAKAHASHI,”
CO
37666
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
RECS REGE 9 FC 10
[November 18.]
SECTION 1.
No. 1.
[42047]
Sir F. Bertie to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received November 18.)
(No. 102.)
Paris, November 18, 1910. (Telegraphic.) R.
YOUR telegram No. 397 of 14th November: Chinese loan. In view of modifications made in article 6, French Government have no objection
to signature by French group of inter-group agreement.
French Government reserve to themselves the right of examining from point of view of national interests all business proposed to groups.
[42062]
No. 2.
Sir F. Bertie to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received November 18.)
(No. 103.) (Telegraphic.) En clair. CHINESE loan.
[By Post.]
Paris, November 18, 1910.
Mr. Carnegie saw the Political Director of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs this afternoon, and spoke to him in the sense of your telegram No. 399 of the 17th November.
M. Bapst said that, in his opinion, now that the inter-group agreement containing article & in its amended form had been signed, the question of the joint signature of loan was one which concerned all four legations at Peking. He thought that before taking any further steps it would be as well to wait and see what reply the United States Government return to the representations made by the British, French, and German representatives at Washington.
[42048]
No. 3.
Sir E. Goschen to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received November 18.) (No. 72.) (Telegraphic). P.
CHINESE loan.
Berlin, November 18, 1910.
The German Government have sent instructions to their representative at Washington to take action in the sense indicated in your telegram No. 122 of the 16th November.
[42049]
No. 4.
(No. 73.)
Sir E. Goschen to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received November 18.)
(Telegraphic.) P.
CHINESE loan.
Your telegrain No. 123 of yesterday.
Berlin, November 18, 1910.
The action of the German group in signing the Chinese loan agreement is being approved by the Imperial Government.
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