2
the seals, the president would be very glad to personally discuss the general points with the banks, at the same time specially deputing a high official of the board to carry into effect with all expedition the proposed alterations, in co-operation with the But to-morrow being banks, with a view to the settlement of this important matter. the date for closing the seals, the president is overwhelmed with business; and although he is full of anxiety about the matter in question, it will be necessary to wait till the beginning of the New Year for the fixing of a date for the meeting.
Compliments and card of Sheng Kung-pao.
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[5570]
No. 1.
C O
8193
[February 15.]
456
14
"SECTION 2.
Sir,
Enclosure 3 in No. 1
Messrs. Hillier, Cordes, Casenuve, and Straight to Sheng Kung-pao.
Peking, January 20, 1911. WE have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's letter of yesterday's date, from which we regret to learn that, in consequence of the closing of the seals and of the pressure of official business, it will be necessary to defcr further discussion of Hukuang Railway matters until the beginning of next year.
say,
As already pointed out to your Excellency, we received on the occasion of our last meeting a definite assurance from your board that the memorandum of proposed alterations, previously promised, should be in our hands within ten days, that is to about the 13th of the present month. If, therefore, the promised memorandum has been prepared, as we have no doubt is the case, we would respectfully request that your Excellency will be good enough to hand it to us forthwith for our consideration in the meantime, in order that a date may be fixed for its discussion with your Excellency's board immediately on the reopening of official business, whereby much valuable time may be saved.
Trusting that this course will commend itself to your Excellency's approval.
We have, &c.
(Signed by the representatives of the four groups.)
(No. 9.)
Sir F. Bertie to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received February 15.)
(Telegraphic.) En clair.
CHINESE loan.
[By Post.]
Paris, February 14, 1911.
Your unnumbered telegram of 11th February, repeating Washington telegram No. 23, and my private telegram of 12th February.
I have received this evening from M. Pichon a note verbale stating that, in reply to a similar communication from American Government through French Ambassador at Washington, his Excellency has been informed that the British, German, and French Governments, as well as the financiers of those countries, had agreed that encourage- ment should only be given to such Chinese loan as offered full financial and economic guarantees, and was concluded on condition of absolute division of advantages among the participants. The American financiers and Government appeared to be disposed to accept these principles and to join on these conditions in the understanding arrived at by the three groups.
"The persistent demand for the appointment of an American adviser, however, even if it were for the currency reform alone, appears to be inconsistent with the above- mentioned principles of equality of advantages, and it has furthermore been energetically opposed at Peking by Russia and Japan.
The French Government would raise no objection to the proposed declaration at Peking by the four Powers if the British and German Governments were equally prepared to instruct their representatives at Peking in this sense.
M. Pichon adds that the French Government would be glad to be informed of the views of His Majesty's Government in regard to the American proposals.
A copy of M. Pichon's communication will be sent by post to-night.
[1913 p--2]