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Enclosure 1 in No. 1.
Mr. Max Müller to Prince Ch'ing.
Your Highness,
Peking, July 13, 1910. ON the 6th June, 1909, the representatives of the British, French, and German banks concluded an agreement for a loan for the construction of the Hupei-Hunan section of the Iankow-Canton Railway and of the Hupei section of the Hankow- Szechuan Railway with his Excellency the Grand Secretary Chang Chih-tung, duly invested by Imperial edict with full powers to act on behalf of the Imperial Chinese Government. The text of this agreement was initialled by the contracting parties as The banks were at the same final and binding, subject to sanction by Imperial edict. time informed that the necessary memorial would be prepared without delay, and that the Imperial sanction might be looked for in ten days.
While awaiting the communication of the Imperial sanction, the British, French, and German banks were informed that the American Government had reminded the Imperial Chinese Government of prior engagements constituting a claim to participation in the loan, and the banks were requested by the Wai-wu Pu to arrange for the admission to the agreement of an American group. Subsequent negotiations between the British, French, and German banks and the representative of the American group, with the co-operation and approval of the Imperial Chinese Government, resulted in a supplemental agreement providing for American participa- tion on a basis which satisfied all parties.
More than a year has elapsed since the conclusion of the agreement of the 6th June, 1909, and my notes of the 12th February and 22nd April, in which I reminded your Government of their engagements under that agreement have remained unanswered. I am now instructed to request your Imperial Highness to obtain Imperial sanction for the aforesaid agreements to be definitely signed and put into operation for the benefit of the commercial development of China and of her foreign relations.
I would beg your Highness to kindly furnish me, as soon as possible, with a reply for the information of my Government, and I avail, &c.
W. G. MAX MÜLLER.
Enclosure 2 in No. 1.
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
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Sir,
No. 1.
0
25499
[August Ic
SECTION 1.
19 AUG 10
Colonial Office to Foreign Office.-(Received August 4.)
Downing Street, August 3, 1910. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, with reference to the letter to the Colonial Office of the 26th July, copy of correspondence on the subject of the joint working agreement for the Canton-Kowloon Railway.
FRANCIS J. S. HOPWOOD.
I am, &c.
Enclosure 1 in No. 1.
Officer administering the Government of Hong Kong to the Earl of Crewe.
(Confidential.) My Lord,
Government House, Hong Kong, June 23, 1910. WITH reference to paragraph 3 of your Lordship's Confidential despatch of the 27th ultimo, I have the honour to forward the enclosed copy of an amendment which I have caused to be made in article 4 of the draft working agreement giving effect to you Lordship's views.
2. I take this opportunity of reporting that Mr. E. S. Lindsey and Mr. C. Clementi had a preliminary discussion with Mr. Wei Han and his secretary, Mr. Kwok Fung-i, on the 7th instant, and I enclose a copy of a minute by Mr. Clementi reporting the main points of the discussion which then took place.
3. I am forwarding a copy of this despatch for the information of His Britannic Majesty's chargé d'affaires at Peking.
I have, &c.
F. H. MAY.
Your Highness,
Mr. Max Müller to Prince Ching.
Peking, July 13, 1910. WITH reference to my note of to-day's date, requesting the sanction of the Imperial Government to the agreement between the British, French, German, and American banks in connection with the loan for the construction of the Hupei-Hunan section of the Hankow-Canton Railway and of the Hupei section of the Hankow- Szechuan Railway, I bave the honour to remind your Highness of the promise made by you to the British and American representatives in regard to a line from Hankow to Szechuan in September 1903, and to point out that, in accepting the present loan agreement, this promise must henceforth be held to extend to France and Germany as well as to the two countries to whom it was originally made.
I avail, &c.
W. G. MAX MÜLLER.
Enclosure 2 in No. 1.
Extract from the Draft Working Agreement.
Board of Control.--The representatives of the Hong Kong Government shall be approved of by the Imperial Chinese Government, and the representatives of the Imperial Chinese Government shall be approved of by the Hong Kong Government. The board shall meet at least once a month in connection with the business of the railway at a place on or near the line in Chinese and British territory alternately, unless otherwise agreed by the board, but no vote shall be taken unless there be sufficient members present to ensure an equal representation of both Governments at the voting.
Enclosure 3 in No. 1.
Minutes of the Meeting to discuss the question of the Joint Working Agreement between British and Chinese Authorities on the Kowloon-Canton Railway.
Present His Excellency Mr. Wei Han, Mr. C. Clementi, and Mr. E. S. Lindsey.
MR. WEI HAN and his secretary, Mr. Kwok Fung-i, had a preliminary discussion of the working agreement with Mr. Lindsey and myself to-day in the
Council Chamber at 11 a.M.
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