CO129-382 - Public Offices - 1911 — Page 556

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

[B]

AFFAIRS OF CHINA.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[9170]

No. 1.

со

10672

[March 13.]

SECTION 3.

Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received March 13.).

(No. 75. Confidential.) Sir.

Peking, February 18, 1911.

I HAVE the honour to transmit herewith copy of a despatch which has been addressed to me by Mr. Fox, acting commercial attaché to His Majesty's Legation, reporting the establishment in China of a Belgian financial and industrial combination designed to promote the export of Belgian manufactures to the Far East.

Mr. Fox also mentions that a new financial group is in process of formation, consisting of the Belgian Banque d'Outre-Mer, the Russo-Asiatic Bank, and the London City and Midlands Bank,

The American Minister thinks that this new combination may have been formed for the purpose of promoting Russian participation in the Hukuang loan, and of competing gencrally with the existing European and American groups for future industrial undertakings in China,

I have, &c.

Enclosure in No. 1.

Mr. Fox to Sir J. Jordan,

J. N. JORDAN,

(Confidential.) Sir,

WITH reference to Sir Edward Grey's despatch No. 442 of the 21th December

Peking, February 18, 1911. on the subject of the formation of a syndicate of German manufacturers interested in the export of machinery to the Far East, I have the honour to report that a Belgian financial and industrial combination of a somewhat similar character has lately established itself in China.

The Banque d'Outre-Mer, of Brussels, at the head of which is Colonel Thys, the late King Leopold's financial adviser. will finance this combination, which at present consists of the following firms :---

Société anonyme des Forges, Usincs et Fonderies, à Haine-St. Pierre: Locomotives.

Société anonyme des Travaux Dyle et Bacalan, Louvain: Wagons and carriages. Société anonyme des Ateliers de Hal, Hal: Bridges.

Société anonyme des Hauts Fourneaux et Fonderies, à Pont à Mousson: Pipes- water, gas, &c.

Société anonyme d'Ougrée Mari Haye, Ougrée: Rails.

The bank, which two months ago took over all the interests and liabilities of the Compagnie Internationale d'Orient, has opened an office in Shanghai, and a M. de Bosschere has been appointed representative of the syndicate in Peking.

Information that has reached me from another source is to the effect that a new financial group, to consist of the Banque d'Outre-Mer, the Russo-Asiatic Bank, and the London City and Midlands Bank is in process of formation.

The last-named bank, you will remember, assisted in the flotation of the Birchal loan.

I have, &c.

H. H. FOX,

:

[1918 n-3]

Acting Commercial Attaché.

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