262.5
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINESE LOANS AND CONCESSIONS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[F 1415/181/10]
No. 1.
[April 28.]
SECTION 1,
Mr. Lampson to Sir J. Denison Pender.
Dear Sir John Pender,
WE have been in correspondence with the General Post Office on the subject of
Foreign Office, April 28, 1921. your letter of the 6th April to Mr. Wellesley. The Postmaster-General understands that, under the proposals which you wish to put forward to the Chinese Government to secure an extension of your working agreements, the companies would cease after 1930 to have a veto on the landing in China of cables from other countries, but that (besides continuing to work the existing cables between Shanghai, Chefco and Taku, and also working the new cable which the Chinese Administration propose to lay between Shanghai and Chefoo) they would have the exclusive right to lay and work on behalf of the Chinese Administration any additional cables required by the traffic between Shanghai, Chefoo and Taku. There is some doubt in my mind whether the Postmaster-General's understanding of the matter is correct, and I shall be glad to know from you whether it is correct.
Another question which arises is whether the cables worked by the companies would be operated as part of the internal system of the Chinese Administration, and would be thrown open on equal terms to traffic exchanged between China and other countries by any external cable or wireless system without distinction of ownership. Perhaps you would be so good as to enlighten me on this point also.
Yours sincerely,
MILES W. LAMPSON.
[G061 ee-1]