[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
10672!
[December 27.]
SECTION 1.
[46531]
(No. 210.)
No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received December 27.)
(Telegraphic.) P.
HUKUANG railway loan.
Peking, December 27, 1910.
With reference to Mr. Max Müller's despatch No. 431 of the 25th November, a strong representation was made to-day to the Wai-wu Pu by the four representatives in person.
I think the impression was considerable, and that there is a little brighter prospect of a solution. We handed a written statement to Grand Secretary Na, complaining of their lack of courtesy in leaving our identic notes unanswered, and insisting on a definite reply being made without further delay.
His Excellency said he understood that the Board of Communications were inviting the banks' representatives to a conference on the 29th December, and assured us that the main principles of the preliminary agreement would be upheld, though it might be necessary to amend some of the details.
We replied that the bankers could only have our authorisation to attend for the consideration of the formalities necessary to ensure the early completion of the preliminary agreement, and that we could not allow its validity to be questioned.
[1835 dd-1]
559