CO129-329 - Governor Nathan - 1905 [7-12] — Page 476

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Agriculture, Indistry Railways and Mines in the Kwang

Tung, Kwang-Si and Fo Kien Provinces. This despatch

had previo suly apie ared in one of the Chinese news –

pabers of this colony and I have no reason to doubt

its genuineness It shows that the Chinese recognise

that the railway must now be constructed but they want

to do it with funds raised by themselves, to make

their own arrangements for the construction of the line

in and to keep all property in it/their own hands.

A This attitude gives force to the suggestion

contained in the 6th paragraph of my despatch to you

of the 22nd September on which suggestion I hope you

have seen fit to act.

5. I may mention that in a conversation with

Sir Paul Charter, Kt., C.M.G., M.5.0., this morning

in the course of which reference was made to the

Canton letter in "The Hong Kong Daily Press" he stcgest-

ed of his own accord that the construction of the

Chinese section of the railway might be facilitatod

if the British and Chinese Corporation abandoned their

concession and thought it not unlikely that they would

be prepared to do this on repayment of out-of-pocket

expenses. Mr C.W.Dickson, H.D.C., the present Manager

of Jardine Matheson and Co. at Hongkong is known to be

indifferent to theconcession. I have not however

thought it advisable to discuss the matter with him,

and until I know your views on the suggestion referred

to in paragraph 4 above I shall do whatever is in my

pover to press on the completion of the aprecments of

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