File No. 893.772/1054.
Minister Calhoun to
the Secretary of State.
American Legation,
Peking, August 3,
1910.
No. 59.]
Sir: Having reference to the department’s
telegram of June 28, and to the legation’s telegrams of July 9 and
14,1 in reply
thereto, all relating to the Hukuang loan agreement, I have the honor to
transmit herewith copy of the identic note of July 13 presented to the
Wai-wu-Pu by the English, German, French, and American legations, and
also a copy of the note presented on the same date by the English and
American legations, the two notes relating to the aforesaid
agreement.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Minister Calhoun to the Prince of
Ch’ing.
American Legation,
Peking, July 13,
1910.
No. 18.]
Your Imperial Highness: On the 6th of June,
1909, the representatives of the British, French, and German banks
concluded an agreement for a loan for the construction
[Page 289]
of the Hupei-Hunan section
of the Hankow-Canton Railway and of the Hupei section of the
Hankow-Szuchuan Railway with his excellency the grand secretary,
Chang Chih-Tung, duly invested by imperial edict with full powers to
act on behalf of the Imperial Chinese Government. The text of this
agreement was initialed by the contracting parties as final and
binding, subject to sanction by imperial edict. The banks were at
the same time informed that the necessary memorial would be prepared
without delay and that the imperial sanction might be looked for in
10 days.
While awaiting the communication of the imperial sanction, the
British, French, and German banks were informed that the American
Government had reminded the Imperial Chinese Government of prior
engagements constituting a claim to participation in the loan, and
the banks were requested by the Wai-wu Pu to arrange for the
admission to the agreement of an American group. Subsequent
negotiations between the British, French, and German banks and the
representative of the American group with the cooperation and
approval of the Imperial Chinese Government, resulted in a
supplementary agreement providing for American participation on a
basis which satisfied all parties.
More than a year’s time having elapsed since the conclusion of the
agreement of June 6, 1909, and a reply to the legation’s note of
February 16, 1910, reminding your Government of their engagements
under that agreement having not been received, I am now instructed
to request your imperial highness to obtain imperial sanction for
the aforesaid agreements to be definitely signed and put into
operation for the benefit of the commercial development of China and
of her foreign relations.
I would ask your highness to kindly provide me with a reply to my
Government’s desire, as above stated, and avail myself of this
opportunity, etc.,
[Inclosure 2.]
Minister Calhoun to the Prince of
Ch’ing.
American Legation,
Peking, July 13,
1910.
No. 19.]
Your Imperial Highness: With further
reference to my note No. 18 of July 13, 1910, requesting the
sanction of the Imperial Government to the agreement between the
British, French, German, and American banks in connection with the
loan for the construction of the Hupei-Hunan section of the
Hankow-Canton Railway and of the Hupei section of the
Hankow-Szuchuan Railway, I have the honor to remind your highness of
the promise made by you to the British minister and to my
predecessor Mr. Conger in August, 1903, and to point out that in
accepting the present loan agreement, this promise must henceforth
be held to extend to France and Germany as well as to the two
countries to whom it was originally made.
I avail, etc.,