CO129-348 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [7-10] — Page 231

20.

1. A

a'lambat o

reasons given in the third paragraph of re Dospatch so the

Secretary of State it would seen advisable to press rather for

the General Control of the Line to be vested in the Vicarey thar

to allude specifically to the matter of negotiations regarding

the Joint Working Agreement.

228

Lord Grove in the Despatch enclosed con-

-siders that "the question has assured a new aspect" owing to

the fact that the Chinese Goverment has refused to appoint str

John Wolfe Barry and Partners an Consulting Engineers so the

Chinese. Section of the line. From this remark I conclude that

it has hitherto been the impression of the Colonial Office that

Sir John Wolfe Harry and Partners as Consulting Engineera to

both Sections would have a preponderant rolce in advising as to

the serma of the Joint Working Agreement. I understand that

though the Chinese Government la not unwilling to accept the

sorvions of that Firm in an informal way na regarda preparation of designs of bridges and so on It has been finally decided that they shall occupy no formal position as Consulting Breisacra, and that in such a matter na t'e megollaston of a Joint Working Agrement they would not be consulted.?

4.

It is obvious t at the first step for this

Government to take in this matter is to ascertain with whom nagotiasions are to be carried on. In the Central Government should entirely refuse to empower the Viceroy at Canton to sot on their behalf is will become necessary for the Board of Communications (or whoever olae may exercise the power of delegation) to name an Official to conduct the negotiations with this Government. In that case I presime t'at the Chinese

Government would recognise the desirability if not the

their delegate absolute necessity of coming to canton in order to judge on

A the spot of the local conditions, and negotiate with me for the Officer deputed by re in that behalf) in person. It has, however been pointed out to me that if the Central Government were urged to send a Peking Official to Canton for this purpose, he - Mr. Vei would probably supersede the local Managing Director

Mun