File No. 5315/208–209.
The Secretary of State to Minister Rockhill.
Washington, May 24, 1909.
Mr. Knox refers legation’s No. 1715, of September 27, 1904,1 press reports understanding between English, French, and German financial groups under which Germans arrange to offer funds for construction of portion proposed Hankow-Szechuen Railway. Adds that if report is correct he will call the attention of the Wai-wu Pu to the assurance reported by Mr. Conger that in case China was unable herself to provide the sum necessary to build this railway American and British capitalists would simultaneously be notified, and he will also inform the foreign office that this Government holds [Page 145] that this assurance guarantees to American and British capital the preference in bidding for any foreign loan floated for. this purpose Directs that he report fully and immediately results his investigation and action.