CO129-464 - Public Offices - 1920 — Page 456

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FOREIGN OFFICE.3.W.1.

March 31st 1919.

444

30809

REND

Rec 23 UN 20.

Gentlemen:-

With reference to your letter of the 9th September

last, I am directed by Earl Curzon of Kedleston to inform

you that he has been in correspondence with His Majesty's Minister at Peking on the subject of Mr. Moore-Bennett's scheme for the exploitation of the coal and iron deposits

in the province of Kwangtung.

It appears that the development of coal and iron in this province is engaging the attention of several British companies and 31r John Jordan says that before he can promise support to any Company he must be informae d of the specific areas in which the Company desires to prospect, Lord Curzon therefore desibes me to state that, should your Company decide to go on with the scheme, they should ingrtuot Mr. Moore-Bennett to submit concrete pro- posals to His Majesty's Legation, as it is not possible to give a general promise of support of the nature required for such a large area as the province of Kwangtung.

Sir John Jordan also points out that, in view of the Chinese interests concerned, there can be little hope of obtaining a concession to exploit the mines, except in cooperation with some of the more influential Chinese,

Lord Curzon further desires me to state that until order is restored in China there is little prospect of concluding any valid agreements with the Chinese

Government/

Bewick, Moreing and Company,

London Wall,

E.0.2.