CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909 — Page 471

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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]

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CHINA RAILWAYS.

CONFIDENTIAL

[18872]

No. 1.

469

[May 19.]

SECTION 8,

Sir,

Mr. C. Addis to Sir Edward Grey (Received May 19.)

31, Lombard Street, London, May 18, 1909. HANKOW-CANTON and Ilankow Szechuan Railways.

I have the honour to report for your approval that, at the conclusion of the Conference in Berlin on the 15th iustani, I formally stated to the German and French Delegates that, while the British group, consisting of the British and Chinese Corpora tion (Limited) and Chinese Central Railways (Limited), were entitled to claim, and would receive, the exclusive support of their Government as regards their interest in the two railways from Hankow to Canton and from Hankow to Chêngtu, which formed the subject-matter of the present Anglo-German-French Agreement, they were not entitled to claim a monopoly of Government support as regards any railways in China which might be constructed in the future.

I added that the statement was made in view of the general Anglo-German-Frenchi Agreement to be entered into shortly by the three groups in order to provide for equal participation in all future railway business in China.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

C. I. ADDIS.

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