166
he has other security than the line to pledge), so I am afraid the banks may not be able to do the loan. Please communicate as you suggest in the last sentence of your telegram of July 11th."
Will you now see what arrangements can be made in London in the matter of this construction loan?
167
a favour in applying to us in the face of other offers, and without doubt he is fully aware of the importance we attach to not letting this loan slip from our hands. Time is pressing. Would you be satisfied with the general assurance as suggested in Hankow telegram of July 20th? Should this loan fall through I think the chances of a satisfactory settlement of the Canton-Kowloon Railway affairs are remote.
XIX.
GOVERNOR, Hong Kong, to Hrs BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S MINISTER, Peking.
(July 16, 1905.)
Your telegrams of July 15th. With reference to £3,000,000 loan for construc- tion, I have asked Secretary of State to see what can be arranged in London. With reference to the £1,100,000 loan for resumption, I will send the English draft agree- ments, with explanations, to Canton as soon as possible. If you think necessary condition 4 may be modified so that the second instalment instead of the first is conditional on the completion of the Canton-Kowloon Agreements.
XXII.
GOVERNOR, Hong Kong, to His BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S MINISTER, Peking.
(July 24, 1905.)
Your telegrams, July 21st and July 23rd. In the circumstances you report I will be satisfied with the general assurance suggested in Hankow telegram of July 20th. If, before this assurance is given, the Viceroys have seen at any rate précis of the Canton-Kowloon Agreements, this assurance will be of greater value. With regard to the Canton Viceroy, I am asking His Britannic Majesty's Consul- General, Canton, to whom I gave the English drafts on July 17th, and with regard to the Wuchang Viceroy, I assume His Britannic Majesty's Consul-General, Hankow, has by now been able to show him the précis. Before the assurances and Loan Agreement for the £1,100,000 are finally signed, I should like the text to be com- municated to me.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :--
PLIFIC.O. 882
XX.
HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S MINISTER, Peking, to GOVERNOR, Hong Kong. (July 21, 1905.)
The following from Consul, Hankow, yesterday :-
to
The summary, posted on June 11th, has not yet arrived. I have asked for an early interview with the Viceroy. If his Private Secretary spoke the truth on July 14th, the Viceroy, Wuchang, will not consent to the payment of any portion of the loan being contingent upon the comple- tion of the Canton-Kowloon Agreements. Unless he is bluffing he will insist on a definite settlement without further delay, as his American Agreement must be signed so soon. Am I to make Hong Kong modifications stated in telegram of July 16th the final concession, or may I accept assurances by the two Viceroys that they will try their best to have the Canton-Kowloon Railway Agreements completed as soon as possible? I think I could obtain this assurance subject to their views on the matter being carefully considered. The Chartered Bank asked for further particulars of the £3,000,000 loan with the object of tendering, but the Private Secretary replied that the Viceroy, Wuchang, cannot give any further information in view of the precarious state of the loan."
I have replied as follows :—
Your telegram, No. 38. The Chinese text of the summary was posted on July 10th, the English text on July 11th. If you see no objection I think you might delay your interview until one or other shall arrive. By that time the contents of the draft agreements sent from Hong Kong will also probably be known to the Viceroy, Canton."
I have telegraphed confidentially to His Majesty's Consul-General at Canton to hurry up the Viceroy there.
XXI.
HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S MINISTER, Peking, to GOVERNOR, Hong Kong.
(July 23, 1905.)
My telegram of July 21st. information from Hankow indicates that the utmost we can expect is a general His Majesty's Government are not taking steps. My assurance by the two Viceroys to try their best to complete the Canton-Kowloon Agreements as soon as possible. Viceroy, Wuchang, evidently thinks he is doing us
XXIII.
GOVERNOR, Hong Kong, to HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S CONSUL-GENERAL, Canton. (July 24, 1905.)
Please inform me whether the substance of the draft railway agreements has been communicated to Viceroy, and, if so, whether he has expressed any opinion on them.
XXIV.
CONSUL-GENERAL, Canton, to GOVERNOR, Hong Kong. (July 25, 1905.)
Of the draft agreements I have informed the Viceroy that one is similar to the Shanghai-Nanking Railway Agreement, and I have given him a summary of the other. Viceroy sent his Secretary to convey assurance of his friendly co-operation; he has telegraphed to Peking and is awaiting instructions.
XXV.
GOVERNOR, Hong Kong, to His Britannic MajesTY'S MINISTER, Peking. (July 25, 1905.)
My telegram of July 24th. Consul-General, Canton :---
16
The following is from His Britannic Majesty's
Of the draft agreements I have informed the Viceroy that one is similar to the Shanghai-Nanking Railway Agreement, and I have given him a summary of the other. Viceroy sent his Secretary to convey assur- ance of his friendly co-operation; he has telegraphed to Peking and is` awaiting instructions."
You will probably deem it advisable to communicate this to Consul-General, Hankow.
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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