CO129-330 - Public Offices - 1905 — Page 570

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Enclos 3 in no.

563

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THE BRITISH AND CHINESE CorpoRATION, LIMITED.

Tegraphic Address:

BICKMERIS, LONDON"

COPY

3. Lombard Street, London ze

May 22nd. 1905.

Sir Eldon Gorst, K.C.B.

Foreign Office, S. W.

Sir,

In concluding our letter to you of the 18th. instant

in reply to your letter of the 16th, idem we stated that we were

telegraphing to China for information respecting the Canton

Kowloon Railway negotiations.

We now beg leave to acquaint you for the information

of the Marquess of Lansdowne that we have received the following

reply from Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co., dated Shanghai, the

20th. instant:-

"Referring to your telegram of the 18th. We have received

"a telegram from C. H. Ross (Peking). The British Minister

"submitted out proposal to the Wai Wu Pu but before

"proceeding with the negotiations they wish to consult with

"Sheng Kung Pao, who arrived Wednesday last now visiting the

"Dowager Empress. We expect to make progress in about a

"week or two but it continues very uncertain with whom will

"negotiate."

We are greatly disappointed that so much delay is

taking place at Peking and that we are still in a condition ar

uncertainty as to the negotiations although our past experience

and especially our knowledge of Sheng Kung Pao should have

prepared us for infinite procrastination.

Rumoured movements in the direction of Railway

construction to unite Canton and Whampoa point to the urgency

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