CO129-373 - Public Offices - 1910 — Page 393

4,

When the director-general has memorialised and obtained the Imperial edict handing the matter over to the Board of Finance for approval, the final agreement can be signed. If the Board of Finance should have any emendations to make, then another arrangement should be discussed. This is clearly understood.

Signed by the deputies appointed by his Excellency the Grand Secretary Chang Chib-tung, director-general of the Canton-Hankow Railway and of the Hupei section of the Ssechuan-Hankow Railway, duly authorised by Imperial decree.

KAO LING-WEI, Commissioner of Education, Hupei. TSENG KUANG-JUNG, Taotai of Shik Ho, Hupei.

E. G. HILLIER, Manager of Hong Kong and Shanghai

Bank.

CASENAVE, Manager of Banque de l'Indo-Chine.

H. CORDES, Manager of Deutsch Asiatische Bank.

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

AFFAIRS OF CHINA

CONFIDENTIAL.

[November 5.]

SECTION 1.

[39302]

No. 1.

Sir Edward Grey to Sir F. Bertie.*

(No. 391.) (Telegraphic.) R. CHINA loans.

Foreign Office, November 5, 1910.

groups, for

A meeting is to be held here on the 8th instant between the four purpose of coming to a general agreement in regard to all future Chinese business. We are given to understand that French (German) financiers will not be permitted to sign this unless American group undertake to insist vis-à-vis the Chinese that the final contract for the loan of 10,000,000). now under discussion (see recent telegraphic sections) shall be signed by all four groups.

We think it would be a mistake not to sign general agreement, as, though we are entirely in favour of signature of 10,000,0002, loan by all groups, we think we should be in a stronger position to press this if the general agreement were first concluded, as the latter stipulates that all parties should use their utmost endeavours to securo joint signature, &c.

Please urge these considerations on French (German) Government.

Matter is somewhat urgent, as it is reported that final contract for American loan may be signed in next few days.

to you by post

A similar telegram is being sent to His Majesty's representative at Berlin (Paris). Draft of general agreement to be discussed on 8th November goes to-night.

* Also to Sir E. Goschen (No. 115).

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