CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910 — Page 243

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

19141

[B]

CHINA RAILWAYS.

(

CONFIDENTIAL.

[18996)

No. 1.

[May 383 IN 10

SECTION 1.

Mr. C. S. Addis to Sir F. Campbell.—(Received May 28.)

Dear Sir Francis,

Hong Kong and Shanghae Banking Corporation,

31, Lombard Street, London, May 27, 1910.

I AM very glad to be able to report that representatives of the four groups- British, German, French, American-signed at Paris on the 24th instant an agreement for the equal division of finance and material in the Hukuang loan.

The vexed question of engineers has been settled by an equal division of sections on the Szechuan line and its extensions, but, as regards the Hankow-Canton line, the whole is reserved for an engineer of British nationality.

This removes the last of the differences separating the four groups, and, so far as they are concerned, brings to a harmonious conclusion the long-drawn-out negotiations for the settlement of the Hukuang loan.

In the opinion of the British group the result, which secures the whole of the Hankow-Canton line for a British engineer, is more favourable than at one time might have been expected, and they hope it may be so regarded by the Secretary of State.

Yours truly,

C. S. ADDIS.

P.S.-A dozen copies of the agreement and accompanying documents are being sent you herewith.

C. S. A.

Enclosure 1 in No. 1.

Dear Sir,

British and Chinese Corporation to Mr. C. S. Addis.

3, Lombard Street, London, May 27, 1910. AS desired, I beg to enclose in a separate packet for the Foreign Office twelve printed copies of the minutes of the meetings of the French, British, German, and American groups

held in Paris on the 23rd and 24th instant, including minutes of the meeting of the Committee of Representatives held on the 23rd instant.

Also twelve printed copies of the following documents referred to in the minutes,

viz. :-

1910.

Loan agreement, initialled 6th June, 1909. Accompanying despatch.

Draft agreement supplemental to loan agreement.

Memorandum of agreement between Mr. Addis and M. Simon, 11th May,

Agreement of the 23rd May, 1910, between the groups, made by their representatives in Paris.

I also beg to enclose four copies of the letter which the British and Chinese Corporation is addressing to the French group, the German group, and the American group, confirming the arrangements come to in Paris. An identical letter is being sent to the three groups by Chinese Central Railways.

I am, &c.

A. N. FREWER, Secretary.

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