CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907 — Page 625

Lo

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I am to remind you that on November 20th. 1905, a

letter was addressed to you from this Department enclos-

ing a copy of the agreement between the British and

French groups of "Chinese Central Railways, Limited",

which provides for absolutely equal participation on

the part of the two groups as regards personnel, ma-

tériel and practical control during construction, OX-

cept that the common Chairman must be a British nominee

with a casting vote. The views of the Secretary of

State for the Colonies and of the Governor of Hongkong

were asked for before a decision was reached as to al-

lowing French participation in the Hankow Canton Rail-

way on the same terms as in the case of the Chinese

Central Railways.

Goo

42300

05

In your reply, dated November 29th. 1905, a copy

of a telegram from the Governor of Hongkong was enclos-

ed opposing the proposed French participation, but you

stated that the Secretary of State for the Colonies was

not convinced by the arguments therein put forward, and

asked to be informed of any action which Lord Lansdowne

might finally decide to take.

5

Subsequently copies were sent you in print of a

letter