i
253
4.
(c) to connect Swatow when the Companies lay their
proposed triplicate cable between Hongkong and
Shanghai.
Six days later Sir J.Pender wrote agaián stating that in leauing their instructions to their represantatives in China, the Cable Companies were strongly emphasising the importance from an international point of view of the continued working by the Companies of the Shanghai-Chefco-Taku cables and the special land wires between Taku, Tientsin and Peking beyond 1930. He
alluded to the reasons which had originally led to the control and handing over to the Companies of the control of these cables, and pointod out that under the arrangements with the Chinese Government the Companies' expenditure on the laying of these cables was recouped by half-yearly instalments payable by China for a period of years expiring at the end of 1930: China had however the option of terminating the arrangement in 1925 with the payment of the balance then remaining due to the Companies. 81: John Pender added that during the interviewe last autumn with Mr. Ericksen, Adviser to the Chinese Telegraph Administration, it was clearly indicated that the Chinesa Government wished to exercise this option and to take over and work the cables in 1925. Were this to eventuate, there would no longer be any international communication to the north of Shanghai nor to Wei-Hai-Wei, and the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company would be unable efficiently to fulfil its obligations to His Majesty's Government in the matter of transmitting British Government telegrams by British employée only. The Compeny therefore requested that instructions might be telegraphed to His Majesty's Minister at Peking to support them in endeavouring to get their working agreements with China respecting these cables extended for a further period beyond 1930.
5.