CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909 — Page 619

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

[B]

CHINA RAILWAYS,

CONFIDENTIAL.

[21539]

C.O. 22029

IRCOP

Rec 2 JUL 09

[June 9.]

SECTION 2.

No. 1.

617

Sir,

Mr. Whitelaw Reid to Sir Edward Grey-(Received June 9.)

London, June 8, 1909. WITH reference to my note of the 3rd instant relating to the construction of the Hankow--Szechuen Railway, I have the honour to inform you that the attitude of my Government therein set forth has been brought clearly to the attention of the Chinese Government and has now been made known to the Governments of Germany and France.

I have further the honour to inform you that there has now been organised a strong representative group of American bankers, formed by Messrs. J. P. Morgan and Co., Kuhn, Loeb, and Co., the First National Bank, and the National City Bank, all of New York. This group is sending at once an agent to Europe and to China, and is prepared to co-operate with the other foreign interests now negotiating, and in this enterprise is cordially supported by my Government, who are convinced that it will in turn he welcomed by the other Governments interested on the ground that it adds strength to the movement of China to hasten the development of the natural resources and trade of that Empire.

I have, &c.

WHITELAW REID.

[2317 i--2]