CO129-363 - Public Offices & Others - 1909 — Page 207

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

206

199215

CHINA RAILWAYS,

CONFIDENTIAL.

[41321]

No. 1.

[November 10.]

SECTION 2.

2 DEC 09

Mr. Whitelaw Reid to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received November 10.)

American Embassy, London, November 9, 1909.

Sir,

I AM instructed by my Government to call your attention to the danger from the continued delay at Peking in the matter of the Hankow-Szechuan Railway.

Obviously, until an agreement is reached among the European bankers, no progress is possible at Peking, especially in the face of the growing local Chinese opposition.

My Government understands that a practical agreement has been reached at Peking. Under these circumstances it fears that a failure now on the part of the British and German Governments to cause their bankers to complete the arrangement without further delay would be a misfortune of far-reaching consequence for all concerned.

I have, &c.

[2486 k--2]

WHITELAW REID.

isc -June