CO129-382 - Public Offices - 1911 — Page 194

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

C о

1163

CHINA RAILWAYS.

RECP

[December 19.]

REGE 13 JAN II

CONFIDENTIAL,

SECTION 1.

[45791]

No. 1.

(No. 431.) Sir,

Mr. Max Müller to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received December 19.)

Peking, November 25, 1910. WITH reference to my despatch No. 378 of the 25th ultimo, on the subject of the Hukuang railways loan negotiations, I have the honour to transmit herewith copy of a further identic note addressed to the Wai-wu Pu by the four legations, reminding the Chinese Government of the request contained in our note of the 22nd ultimo that they should instruct the Board of Communications to act in accordance with the engagements represented by the initialled agreement, and to co-operate with the representatives of the banks in the steps necessary for its early completion and ratification.

I have, &c.

W. G. MAX MÜLLER.

Enclosure in No. 1.

Your Highness,

Mr. Max Müller to Prince Ch'ing.

Peking, November 25, 1910. ON the 22nd October I had the honour to report to your Highness the result of an interview which took place on the 3rd October last between the Board of Communications and the representatives of the British, French, German, and American banks, for the purpose of discussing the matter of the Hukuang railways loan.

The arguments advanced at that interview by the acting president and vice- president of the board, as pointed out to your Highness in my note of the 22nd October, become quite untenable in the light of the obligations entered into under the initialled agreement of the 6th June, 1909, and of the attitude and action of the Wai-wu Pu in respect to the same, and I therefore requested that your Highness's Government would instruct the Board of Communications to act in accordance with the engagements represented by the initialled agreement, and to co-operate with the representatives of the banks in the steps necessary for its early completion and ratification.

As a month has now elapsed since I had the honour to address this request to your Highness, and the representatives of the banks have received no invitation from the Board of Communications to resume the discussion of the Hukuang railways loan, I have the honour to ask that your Highness will be so good as to inform me what steps have been arranged with the Board of Communications for bringing this matter to an early and satisfactory conclusion.

I avail, &c.

W. G. MAX MÜLLER.

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