CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907 — Page 41

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refused or the ground that there

is nothing about thie in our original engagement.

The Japanese Bank ales desired to make loan but the

them, and it was settled not to mention the name

British

of the Japanese Bank in the Agreement.

Bank, although they

As rerurde the Deutsch-Asiatische

wished to thrust themselves into the business and sent a

representative to my yamer to speak or it, I would not discuss

it with him, because, if Hupei builds lines without horrowing,

it is one of their business, while if we borrow it must be

from the Hongkong and Shanghai Rank, on account of the existing

Consul General engagement with the British we

stion which cannot

now be changed. As regards the request of the Seruan Vinister I

hope you will put him off with a non-committal reply.