[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINESE LOANS AND CONCESSIONS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[F 1231/181/10]
No. 1.
Foreign Ofice to Post Office.
[April 11.]
SECTION 1.
Sir,
Foreign Office, April 11, 1921. WITH reference to previous correspondence respecting cable communication with China, I am directed by Earl Curzon of Kedleston to transmit herewith, to be laid before the Postinaster-General, a copy of a further letter from the chairman of the Eastern Telegraph Company.* Sir John Denison Pender raises the question of the Shanghai-Chefoo-Taku cables and the special land-line wires between Taku, Tien-tsin and Peking; and he proposes, in the forthcoming negotiations between the cable companies and the Chinese telegraph administration, to press the Chinese Government to prolong the agreements held by the cable companies for the working of these lines beyond 1930.
2. Lord Curzon understands that the facts respecting the circumstances attending the laying of these lines are correctly given in the second and third paragraphs of the chairman's letter. But as regards the obligation of the Eastern Telegraph Company to transmit British Government telegrams through the hands of British employees only, no reference to this arrangement can be traced in the archives of this Office, though it has long been known that such an arrangement was, in fact, in force.
3. Sir John Denison Pender requests that instructions may be issued to His Majesty's Minister at Peking to support the cable companies in their endeavour to get the working agreements for the lines in question extended for a further period beyond 1930. So far as Lord Curzon can see, there is no objection to such a course, and, subject to the concurrence of the Postmaster-General, he would be prepared to take action accordingly. He will, however, await the observations of the Postmaster-General before so informing the cable company.
4. As you are aware, the possibility of eliminating international competition in matters concerning telegraphic communication with China has so far been limited to informal discussion, and though Lord Curzon trusts that something upon those lines may ultimately eventuate, it appears to him possibly premature at the present stage to take any more definite steps towards that end.
5. An early reply is requested.
* April 5, Section 1.
[6061 -1]
I am, &c.
MILES W. LAMPSON.
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