71
all land has to be paid for out of the loan, the contingency is not remote that the available capital would be insufficient for the completion of the construction. The raising of further capital whether by Chinese subscriptions or by a further loan from the British and Chinese Corporation would probably afford opportunities for interminable delays. If the completion were indefinitely delayed it seems to me that the Canton-Hankow line would have a claim which it would be very difficult to resist to find a terminus at the sea, if in fact such a terminus with sufficient depth of water can be created. Yr. Grove informs me that if the requisite land can be secured towards the end of the year he hopes to complete in 2 years from this date, but that if delay occurs in securing land it will be four years from now before he can hope to finish construction.
9.
*
Lord Crewe considers that "it is essential that steps should be taken without further delay to obtain from the Chinese Government satisfactory assurances" on the points raised, and the method in which he suggests that this should be done is detailed in paragraph 7 of the despatch. Any representations of the nature indicated must be made through yourself, but I am inclined to think that the questions specified the replies to which so far as they can at present be given are already known to us categorically answered without bringing us any nearer to the object in view which is in brief the organisation of the joint working of the two sections, and the determination of the basis on which profits are to be shared. In this connection, I may observe that in a conversation which I had with Mr. Grove (Chief Resident Engineer of the Chinese Section) early in January last, he informed me that it would be a year or 18 months before he would be ready to discuss the details of a working agreement. He added that any proposals for joint arrangements at the present stage would render the Chinese essentially suspicious. For my own part, it appears to me very...
71
all land has to be paid for out of the loan, the contingency is not remote that the available capital would be insufficient for the completion of the construction. The raising of further capital whether by Chinese subscriptions or by a further loan from the British and Chinese Corporation would probably afford opportunities for interminable delays. If the completion were indefinitely delayed it seems to me that the Canton- Pankow line would have a claim which it would be very difficult to resist to find a terminus at the sea, if in fact such a terminus with sufficient depth of water can be created. Yr.Grove informs me that if the requisite land can be secured towards the end of the year he hopes to complete in 2 years
from this date, but that if u delay occurs in securing land it will be four years from now before he can hope to finish
construction.
9.
*
Lord Crewe considers that "it is cesential that
steps should be taken without further delay to obtain from
the Chinese Government satisfactory assurances" on the points
raised, and the method in which he suggests that this should
bc dáne is detailed in paragraph 7 of the despatch. Any
representations of the nature indicated must be
ade through
your self, but I am inclined to think that the questions
specified the replies to which so far as they can at
would be categoric- present be given are already known to us
ally answered without bringing us any nearer to the object in view which is in brief the organisation of the joint working
of the two sections, and the determination of the basis on
I may which profits are to be shared. In this connection, observe that in a conversation which I had with Mr.Grove (Chief Resident Engineer of the Chinese Section) early in January last, he informed me that it would be a year or 18 months before he would be ready to discuss the details of a working agreement. He added that any proposals for joint arrangements at the present stage would render the Chinese
essential suspicious. For my own part, it appears to me ver
that
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