CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909 — Page 668

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

CHINA RAILWAYS,

CONFIDENTIAL,

686

The

[September 17.]

SECTION 1,

[34834]

No. 1.

Hong Kong and Shanghae Bank to Foreign Office.--(Received September 17.)

Dear Sir Francis,

Hong Kong and Shanghue Bank, 31, Lombard Streni, London, September 16, 1909.

I ENCLOSE copy of telegram just received from Peking, and am forwarding the same, as requested, to Paris and Berlin.

I have seen both Mr. Frewer and Mr. Carl Meyer on the subject. They both think it unfortunate that the Americans should have unade such a supplementary demand, but at the same time we are relieved that a complication has occurred, for which the onus must rest with the Americans, giving us a little breathing space.

Mr. Addis wires me this afternoon that he will return to Loudon on Monday night.

Yours very truly,

A. M. TOWNSEND.

Inclosure in No. 1.

Copy of Telegram received from Peking, September 16, 1909.

AMERICAN Government insists upon equal treatment with respect to appoint- ment of purchasing agent, which practically means that instead of two purchasing agencies, as provided in article 18, all four groups or their nominees will act as agents for both lines. We have replied proposal is not acceptable, but Straight informs us his instructions leave him no discretion. Telegraph instructions, inform Deutsch Asiatische Bank, Banque de l'Indo Chine.

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