32
situation to him in the hope that the new preponal womid
then be dropped by the Rixiæber.
Mr. Chen (a Cambridge graduate and now ABBİ Etant
Traffic Manager of the Feking ikzkow Failway) duly called
a little later on the same day.
17. I explained the whole
wituation to him once more. I was inclined to sT TOUS
the matter on the basis of the old agreement between the
chinese dovermont and the ble Companion, which provided
for the Chinese "ffice being established in son gouge K
was, however, quite friendly and outwardly reasonable.
Es said that the Minister of Communications was germinsly
afraid of insurring puklio eriticism in those days of
axeited Mtionalist feeling if he handed over the Chi 11 Qua
Telograph office to foreigners to work. I said that we did
not knew whether even this solution would be nesup table to
Hongkong and that I cœld certainly suggest no other except
the removal of the office to Chinʊme territory.
In
of eonversation Mr. Chen referred to the pomi b flity of
Zinding aase nominee (be himself was a Cantonese and aeɛngiɛted with the present do vezmer Lå of canton) wh would be acceptable to both the Cantonese and the forth. I replies that if Peking could find such a man who could make a working arrangement with the Mrtoness that might be a salation, but did he think it really a pom ib fity? pool0Qlt?
Eventually lir. Chen game to rest on a new propo ml that the Minister of Commaniantions should appoint a reputable British employes of the hinge Govermet, say from th
I did mot rail way service, to take charge of the offic
ere m rage this suggestion and Ir. Chen orentaally left
to repert to his rini ster.
A few days later Mr. Chen appli ed for an interview with His Bm jesty's Minister, bet au bæeçmezikly
en.noellet