slation.
HANKOW.
297
needy gentry cede to the merchants the management
of railways, might let Hupei continue the line to
connect with Kuangtung. This was only a scheme of
his own, however, which had not yet been broached.
The Viceroy mentioned that he would want to
borrow 24 millions sterling or, if the southern line
went on to Changsha, 34 millions; and his idea was
to ask the same terms as to interest and redemption
as in the case of the Lu-Han Railway.
As His Excellency was unwell and looked weary
we took our leave, the Viceroy repeating that so soon
as word came from Peking that all would be well he
would lay his proposal before the Throne; Mr. Bland
might assure Their Excellencies Chang Po-hsi and
T'ang Shao-yi that in Hupei there would be no opposi-
tion from any class whatever.
During the interview not a word was said as to
Monsieur Casenave and the French banks.
Sir:
December 11th, 1906.
I have just received and read your note. The
other day I received a note from the French Consul to
the effect that the Director of the Banque de l'Indo-
Chine, Monsieur Casenave, had come to Hankow accom-
panied by an Englishman named Eland, having some busi-
ness to discuss personally with me and asking me to
arrange a time to receive them. I have been for some
days fully occupied with public affairs and am besides
not in a good state of health, and am unable to re-
ceive visitors. I wrote at the time to Monsieur de
la Batie, the French Consul, to tell these persons to
interview the Hankow Taotai who could in turn inform
me.
note,
In your note just received the name "Bland" is,
I take it, the same as the name *Bland" in the other
(The Chinese characters differ, Translator)
but I quite fail to understand why he should desire
to see me with regard to a loan in conjunction with
the Director of the Banque de l'Indo-Chine. What is
I have &c.,
(Signed)
E. H. Fraser,
Consul General,
H. Fraser,
Esq.
his
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