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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
(17726]
No. 1.
Foreign Office to Peking Syndicate.
295
[June 10.]
SECTION 1.
Sir,
Foreign Office, June 10, 1907. I AM directed by Secretary Sir Edward Grey to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 29th ultimo, complaining of the obstructive attitude of the Chinese Government with regard to the Shausi Agreements of the Peking Syndicate.
Sir E. Grey notes that in the opinion of the Syndicate this attitude is due to the influence of one or two local officials, the removal of whom might lead to the cessation of the opposition which is being encountered.
With regard to the Syndicate's suggestion that joint action might be taken by the Powers interested to urge the Chinese Government to carry out the agreements of a purely commercial nature into which they have entered, I am to point out that, owing to the delays and difficulties inseparable from such a proceeding, it is highly impro- bable that any useful result would be attained.
On the other hand, Sir E. Grey is disposed to consider that the co-operation of the French Government alone might usefully be invoked. He would suggest that the Syndicate should approach the French Government through the French gentleman who you state has recently been elected to their Board.
In the event of the French Government giving favourable consideration to the application of the Syndicate, Sir E. Grey will be ready to instruct His Majesty's Minister at Peking to consider, in conjunction with his French colleague, whether they could usefully approach the Chinese Government with a view to securing the removal of the obstructive local officials.
I am, &c.
[2524 k-1]
(Signed)
F. A. CAMPBELL.
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