295
who in the matter of railway loan negotiations was
his colleague, going with him to see the Viceroy;
and he added that he had noted in his diary that you
had assented to this view of his position.
After seeing Monsieur Casenave, whom he found
laid up with influenza, but set upon being present
at any interview.Mr. Bland might have with His Excel-
lency Chang (who had, be said, referred him to the
taotai) Mr. Bland asked me to forward a note asking
for an interview, which I let the Consulate writer
draw up for him and in his own name.
Upon my suggestion Mr. Bland also telephoned
from the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank to the Taotai
asking to be received that evening.
Early yesterday morning I received from the
Viceroy a note (copy and translation enclosed) which
showed that the French authorities had, by miss tat-
ing the relations of the representatives of the Brit-
ish Chinese Corporation roused the Viceroy's suspi-
cions.
Mr. Bland after reading this note called on Mon-
sieur Casenave, with whom he found Monsieur de la
Batie, read them His Excellency Chang's note and ob-
tained assent to His Excellency's being notified of
the true position of Monsieur Casenave
W
Monsieur de
la Batie ascribing his blunder to his writer.
Mr. Bland then handed me a memorandum which was
embodied in a reply to the Viceroy (copy and transla-
tion enclosed).
Shortly after Mr. Bland returned to say that the
Taotai was at the Bank waiting to take him across to
see His Excellency Chang, who insisted on my also be-
ing present.
We therefore called on His Excellency, to whom I
handed my reply to his note, His Excellency read it
carefully and asked if Mr. Bland had any draft of his
proposals to show him.
It was explained that no special terms had yet
been drafted but the general tenor of the Kowloon-Can-
ton Agreement would be followed. The English text
Mr.
was
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.