[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.].
[B]
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
208
| 09215
[November 13] 2 DEC 09,
SECTION 1,
[41686]
No. 1.
Note communicated by Mr. Whitelaw Reid.(Received November 13.)
MR. WHITELAW REID presents his complimonts to His Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and begs to inform him that his Government has been greatly gratified to learn from Berlin that the settlement of the Hukuang loan proposed by Mr. Straight, viz., that an American engineer should be appointed for the Hsiangyang-Kuang section of 200 kilom. to co-operate with and to be subject to the general direction of the German chief engineer, the appointment of the American engineer to be recognised by the Chinese Government by letter, and that by private arrangements the Hankow-Chengtu-Szechuan section is to be divided as follows: first section of 500 kilom., French chief engineer; second section of 600 kilom., American chief engineer; third section of 500 kilom., British chief engineer; is acceptable to the German Government provided that the American engineer for the Hsiangyang-- Kuangshui section will not interfere with the judgment of the German chief engineer regarding the purchase of materials. This condition is agreed to by the United States Government on the understanding that it shall in no way prejudice the rights of their nationals for the same privileges and preferences with regard to materials, and for a voice in the selection of purchasing agencies as already agreed upon.
Believing that the Powers interested are now at one as regards the conditions of the Hukuang loan, my Government is asking that the German representative at Peking be instructed to sign the agreement without delay.
Inasmuch as the above settlement is also understood to be in harmony with the proposals of the British Government, as stated in the Foreign Office memorandum of the 20th ultimo, my Government hopes that His Majesty's Government will at once cause instructions to be issued to the Hong Kong and Shanghae Banking Corporation to sign this agreement.
Mr. Reid ventures to ask for an immediate favourable reply.
American Embassy, London, November 12, 1909.
[2486 n-1]
SC
June
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.