CO129-470 - Public Offices - 1921 — Page 449

In any further communication

on this subject, please quote

No.

and address,

but to-

1120/255/10.

wot to any perňou by namBAT,

The Under-Secretary of Stato,"

Foreign Office,

idential.

London, S.W.1.

311

16283

lam S AP! 21

FOREIGN OFFICE.

April 2nd, 1921.

446

S.W.1.

Sir:-

With reference to correspondence ending with the

Colonial Office letter No.1381 of January 21st, 1921, I am

directed by Earl Curzon of Kedleston to transmit to you

herewith printed copy of a despatch from His Majesty's

Minister at Peking covering correspondence with His Majesty'a

Consul General at Canton on the subject of the schemes of an

American citizen named Paget for the completion of the

Canton Hankow Railway.

2. A recent telegram received from Sir B. Alston makes it

clear that no further developments in this matter have

occurred and that there is no need to pay serious attention to

the contract negotiated with the former Government of Canton

by Mr. Paget, who is now said to be financially embarrassed

and has apparently no substantial backing; while the

possibility of any serious negotiations between foreign firme

and the existing Canton Government for railway contracts is

out of the question in Sir B. Alston's opinion so long as the

political situation in that Province remains as unstable as

it is at present.

Under Secretary of State,

Colonial Office.

I am,

sir,

Your most obedient,

humble Servant,

Sincerto hampion.

į