3.
17).
Sir:-
312
PEKING.
C.C
February 25th, 1089
REC
REGE 26 MAR 13
...
J
At an interview with the Chinese Foreign Minister
on February 5th, I discussed the subject of the Chinese
proposals referred to in my telegram No.30 of February
st and my despatch No.60 of the 6th instant.
It
In reply to my enquiry as to the financial basis
of the scheme, Mr.Lu stated that the Chinese Government
hoped to carry the proposals through on the broad
principles already indicated but that the Ministry of
the Interior were anxious to decide the lines on which
the monopoly would be worked before they could well
consider the details of the purchase of the stocks.
would, however, be impossible, he thought, to take over
the whole of the stocks at one time, for China could
not possibly provide so large a sum of money.
quired whether the stocks might not be taken over in
instalments and paid for after the Government had re-
I pointed out ceived the proceeds of the retail sales.
that the Banks probably held a lien on the stocks, and
it
He en-
y! !...
The Right Honourable
Sir Edward Grey, Bart., M.P.,
&çi, &c.,
&c.