CO129-451 - Public Offices - 1918 — Page 501

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Bewick,Moreing & Co.,

62 London Wall,

London. E.C.2.

9th Sept. 1918.

497

sir.

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Goal and Iron Mines China

We have recently been receiving important communications with regard to the above from Mr. A.J.Moore Bennett, the Managing Director of the Anglo-Chinese Engineers' Association, Ltd., which latter acts as our General Agents in China.

Mr.Moore Bennett writes to us from Pakin under

date July 13th as follows :-

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"Both factions Lung Che Kuang representing the North, and Tong Shao Yi representing the South, are trying to pledge the mines of Kuang tung to Japan for arms and money to fight one another, and if either of them is successful it will put Hongkong under the necessity of either buying their coal and iron from Japanese works in Kuangtung, or being entirely cut off. Therefore the matter is comin up in an acute form,

and I have seen the Legation and given a signed statement as enclosed."

You will no doubt have received, or will receive, a copy of br.Moore Bennett's statement to Mr.

The Under Secretary of State, for Foreign Affairs

Foreign Office, S.w.l.

Rose