CO129-382 - Public Offices - 1911 — Page 125

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

CO

[B]

621

AFFAIRS OF CHINA.

[November 28.]

REP

CONFIDENTIAL.

Ref 7 JAN ||

SECTION 4.

[43196]

No. 1.

(No. 214.) Sir,

Mr. Mitchell Innes to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received November 28.)

Washington, November 18, 1910.

I HAVE the honour to forward to you herewith copy of the note from the State department of the 17th November, the substance of which was embodied in my telegram No. 47 of the 17th instant to you.

I have, &c.

A. MITCHELL INNES.

Enclosure in No. 1.

Sir,

Mr. Knox to Mr. Mitchell Innes.

Department of State, Washington, November 17, 1910.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 12th instant regarding the quadruple bankers' agreement recently signed in London relating to future business in China.

With reference to the pending loan for currency reform, the preliminary agreement for which between the Chinese authorities and the American group of financiers Las already been signed and ratified, I beg to state that this Government feels constrained to respect the expressed desire of the Chinese Government to continue to negotiate the further details of this loan with the American group of financiers alone. It is conceded in the bankers' agreement that any change proposed in this respect might embarrass the successful negotiation of the loan, which, after all, is the primary thing for all concerned. You may, however, assure flis Britannic Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs that I am prepared, in harmony with the announced policy of this Government in such matters, to give my full support to every effort that can consistently be made, without prejudice to the ultimate success of the loan or of the purpose for which it is raised, to secure the impartial participation by the other interested Powers in all the privileges of the loan.

I desire to take this opportunity of expressing to the Honourable the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, through you, my gratification at the cordial assurance recently given the American Ambassador in London of the adherence of His Britannic Majesty's Government to the principle of the new loan. It is with pleasure that I accept this assurance as indicating the willingness of His Britannic Majesty's Government to co-operate with this Government in securing the effective operation of the proposed reform, to which China is pledged by treaty to both Governments alike, and which is of the greatest importance to all nations having commercial relations with that Empire.

Accept, &c.

P. C. KNOX.

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