CO129-331 - Public Offices - 1905 — Page 356

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view of the Wai Wu Pu no one need be appointed to

negotiate with the Corporation; the Canton Viceroy

will supervise the construction of the line.

I am addressing a strongly worded Note to the

Wai Wu Pu asking whether it is really their inten-

tion to repudiate the agreement they solemnly enter-

ed into in 1899, and pointing out that this agree-

ment is for the construction of a railway from Canton

to the leased territory, and that it would be impos-

sible for the British and Chinese Corporation to con-

tract to build for the Chinese a railway over British

territory. Finally urge that instructions to

negotiate with the Corporation's agent be sent to

the Viceroy. As he is the principal obstructive

it is in my opinion better that he should negotiate

himself than that another official should be nomin-

ated who would agree to nothing without the consent

of the Viceroy.

Separate. The words "British leased territory

of Kowloon" appear in the Chinese text of the pre-

preliminary agreement; in the English text the words

are "British Kowloon" only. The British and Chinese

Corporation knew nothing of the Convention of June

8th 1898, but Sheng evidently knew of it.

Despatch follows by bag.

(Repeated to Hongkong).

(51gned) Ernest Satow.

British Legation,

Peking,

September 11, 1905.

liminary

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