CO129-363 - Public Offices & Others - 1909 — Page 78

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at present enjoyed by the British and Chinese Corporation. It is a matter of common knowledge that this corporation has incurred the odium of the Chinese Government, so that unless it is conceded in principle and carried out in practice that the British Government should assist other British merchants besides this corporation in obtaining Chinese Government business, there is every prospect of the proportion of orders allotted to British manufacturers becoming every year perceptibly less.

We have, &c.

[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Governmez.136990

CHINA TRADE.

CONFIDENTIAL.

RECR REGP II NOV 09

[October 29.]

SECTION 1.

M. SAMUEL AND Co.

[38854]

No. 1.

Foreign Office to Messrs. M. Samuel and Co.

Gentlemen,

Foreign Office, October 29, 1909. I HAVE laid before the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs your letter of the 20th instant in regard to the question of obtaining contracts from the Chinese Government.

You represent that unless your firm and your agents, Messrs. Samuel MacGregor and Co., are recommended by His Majesty's Minister to the heads of the Chinese Administration as fully qualified to handle Chinese Government business which you may undertake, you will be unable to break through the monopoly enjoyed by the British and Chinese Corporation.

In reply, I am directed by Sir E. Grey to inform you that the British and Chinese Corporation have no monopoly of the support of His Majesty's Government.

With regard, however, to the Canton-Hankow Railway business to which you refer, you are already aware that, in view of previous negotiations which had taken place, and of the particular circumstances of the case, His Majesty's Minister was not, at the date of your agents' application to him, in a position to return any answer other than that which he gave. This would also apply to the Hankow-Szechiuen lino, as to which negotiations are proceeding.

As regards future business in which you may be interested in China, Sir E. Grey is in correspondence with His Majesty's Minister at Peking on the subject of your letter, and upon the receipt of Sir J. Jordan's reply a further communication will be made to you.

[2470 ƒ-1]

I am, &c.

F. A. CAMPBELL.