PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 882
6
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON |
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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Chang-sha, Commissioner of Customs, calling on June 12, men- tioned that Viceroy of Canton had wanted to build railway from Chang- sha as the Viceroy had arranged to buy up American Concession shares."
1900 Loan Agreement is probably that arranged with the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank and afterwards taken over by His Majesty's Government.
Enclosure 2 in No. 101.
Sir E. SATOW, Peking, to the MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNE
(Decypher.)
(Sent 8.20, received 6.45, June 19, 1905.)
TELEGRAM.
Private. My telegrams, Nos. 110 [of June 7] and 121 [of June 18]. Hankow. Canton Railway Loan. Fraser writes privately that Viceroy is anxiously awaiting reply to proposals.
In opinion of Viceroy's Secretary, a reliable man, the question which nation will have preponderant influence at Hankow depends on this loan. Other conces- sions are involved, and in any case British interests generally in Yangtse Valley and South China would be greatly advanced by an assurance of help. Viceroy of Canton is working with Hankow Viceroy in this matter, and an unfavourable reply might react adversely on negotiations for Canton-Kowloon Railway.
Attached to 21344/05.
No. 102.
ACTING CONSUL-GENERAL WARREN to THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY. (Received October 12, 1900.) [Communicated by Foreign Office, June 22, 1905.]
(No. 126.) MY LORD,
Shanghae, September 1, 1900.
I HAVE the honour to enclose a copy of a despatch which I have received from Her Majesty's Acting Consul-General at Hankow, forwarding a certified copy of the Agreement by which, under guarantee of Her Majesty's Government, the Hong Kong and Shanghae Banking Corporation is lending His Excellency the Viceroy the equivalent of £75,000.
Mr. Fraser states in his despatch that the Viceroy had informed him that he would certainly need another 500,000 taels in about three months' time, and that the Belgian and German Authorities had offered him loans of this amount. The Ichang Salt Li-kin has an unappropriated balance of some 300,000 taels, which would be ample to secure the fresh loan asked for.
I have to-day had the honour to telegraph to your Lordship to the above effect.
I have, &c.,
PELHAM L. WARREN.
Enclosure 1 in No. 102.
Acting Consul-General FRASER to Acting Consul-General WARREN.
[Not received.]
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Enclosure 2 in No. 102.
AGREEMENT for Loan between Wuchang Viceroy and Hong Kong and Shanghae Bank. Signed at Wuchang, August 28, 1900.
This Agreement is made between His Excellency Chang, Viceroy of the Huku- ang provinces of China, acting under his Viceregal powers for himself and his successors of the one part, and the Hong Kong and Shanghae Banking Corporation, acting for the Government of Great Britain, of the other part.
Whereas, hostilities having broken out in the north of China, the Viceroy has undertaken to afford protection to foreigners and foreign property within his juris- diction, and to maintain order therein; and whereas, in order to assist towards the above object funds are now urgently required for the payment of the troops under the Viceroy's control; and whereas, the Viceroy has officially applied to the Govern- ment of Her Britannic Majesty for financial assistance for the payment of the said troops, with a view to the preservation of order in the Yang-tsze region, it is now agreed as follows:-
1. The Bank hereby agrees to lend to the Viceroy, on the unconditional guarantee by the British Government of the principal and interest of the loan, the sum of £75,000.
2. The term of the loan shall be ten years, calculated from the 25th day of August, 1900, and repayment of principal shall be made by ten equal annual instal- ments of £7,500 each, commencing at the end of the first year.
3. Interest on the loan shall be paid at the rate of 4 per cent. per annum, calculated half-yearly on the amount of the principal from time to time outstanding. 4. All payments of interest and repayments of principal shall be made in accordance with the amounts and dates of the Schedule attached to this Agreement, to the Hong Kong and Shanghae Banking Corporation in Hankow, in Hankow. sycee, at a sterling exchange which will be fixed by the Bank for each payment on a current basis.
5. This loan shall be secured by a second mortgage on the Ichang Salt Li-kin, already charged with the service of the Chinese Imperial Government 4 per cent. Sterling Loan of 1898, and shall rank, as regards security for principal and interest, immediately after that loan.. In case of need it shall be open to the Viceroy to supplement the revenue of the Ichang Salt Li-kin by other revenues of his provinces for the service of the present loan; but in case of default with regard to a payment of interest or repayment of principal of the present loan, the Viceroy may be called upon by Her Britannic Majesty's Government to appropriate and place under the administration of the Imperial Maritime Customs further approved revenues as its security.
6. This loan shall be further secured by deposit with Her Majesty's Consul- General at Hankow of sterling li-kin yearly bonds, equal in value altogether to the total amount of the loan, principal, and interest, sealed by the Viceroy of the Huku- ang provinces and by the Treasurer of Hupei, and countersigned by the foreign Commissioner of Customs at Hankow. In the event of the money to meet a payment of interest or instalment of principal not being handed to the Hong Kong and Shanghae Banking Corporation at its branch in Hankow on due date, these li-kin bonds shall become available for the payment of li-kin in the Province of Hupei, and the provincial authorities shall be instructed accordingly.
7. The proceeds of this loan shall be paid within two months by the Hong Kong and Shanghae Banking Corporation at Hankow, to the order and at the direc tion of Her Majesty's Consul-General at that port, who may require from the pro- vincial authorities concerned such evidence as he may deem necessary of the due employment of the funds for the object stated.
8. This Agreement is executed in triplicate in English and Chinese, one copy to be retained by the Viceroy, one by Her Majesty's Consul-General at Hankow, and one by the Bank. In the event of any doubt arising as to the interpretation of the contract, the English text shall rule,
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