CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909 — Page 322

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it was hoped, therefore, that the French and German groups

would, as on a former occasion, offer no objection to let

the British representative sign by himself.

The separa-

tion of the financial and constructional clemente of the

contract, between the English on the one band and the

French and German Groups on the other, could then be auto-

matically effected by a postscriptum or additional clause

to the Agreement, admitting the French and Germans to

financial participation only. If not, a subsidiary agree-

ment with the Germans, similar to that already signed with

the French, recognising the British preferential rights with regard to engineers and material, would be sufficient.

It must be sâmitted that the scheme, as proposed, of-

fered but a glender chance of success, but no other had been

suggested and for want of a better it was decided to give it

a trial.

Negotiations were accordingly opened by myself, as

representative of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, with the French Group at Paris on the 25th January 1909 and contin-

ued with the German Group at Berlin on the 29th January.

The basis of negotiation was stated in the following

memorandum, a copy of which was submitted to the French

and Gerican Groups respectively:

1.