$82
AM, YUN. 1. To Joich Asirenal lo ro udeleneT
opy.
b.97.
onfidential.
10124).
Sir:-
PEKING,
March 1st 1911.
535
Cudlow a 60 Hoidoman pai
"
18:
sa duongcomo ecqan.91:2
Tomatpen en ud di te
(Domy (2)
By an Imperial Decree, dated the 2nd of January,
1911, copy of which is forwarded in my immediately pre-
ceding despatch of this day's date, the Chinese Govern-
ment have taken over control of all the telegraphs in the
Empire which have hitherto been under official manage-
ment. This step entails the necessity of overhauling the
telegraph service and repairing the various lines, many
of which have fallen into a state of inefficiency, and, to
meet the expenditure, it is proposed to borrow a sum of
Half a Million Sterling from the Eastern Telegraph Com-
pany and the Great Northern Telegraph Company.
The Agents of these two Companies have been in Pe-
king for some time past conducting negotiations with
Shêng Kung Pao and the result of their deliberations is
embodied in the enclosed Draft Agreement, which it is
hoped to sign at an early date with the Board of Commu-
nications acting for the Chinese Government.
Right Honourable
Sir Edward Grey, Bart., M.P.,
&c., &c., &c.
The