CO129-332 - Public Offices & Others - 1905 — Page 456

R

Private.

(2)

COLONIAL OFFICE,

26.10.1904,

453

My dear Nathan,

I enclose a Memorandu, which explains itself, on the Canton-Kowloon Railway Sche.e. It has not yet been seen by the Secretary of Stale, so I cannot say if the proposals will be approved, but I send it to catch this mail as I don't want to lose tive.

Should

r. Lyttelton agree, you will probably get a telegram asking you to subiit objections, if you have any, by telegraph, and I will not finally commit you in the negotiations till you have had time to reply.

I think you will agree that, in view of the importance of getting the railway made, it will be well not to raise difficulties over minor points.

We don't want anything said in public until we are able to announce that a definite stage has boon reached, we think that it would not facilitage the negotiations with the Chinese if they got to hear of our proposals from third parties before getting thei

from us.

Yours sincerely,

(signed) G. V. FIDDES,

# Eastern No. 91