Chargé Fletcher to the Secretary of State.

[Telegram—Paraphrase.]

Referring to his telegram of January 20, Mr. Fletcher reports that he is now in receipt of a formal note from foreign office stating that the viceroy of Manchuria and others have memorialized to make a foreign loan to build a railway from Chinchow to Aiguh, and that the foreign office consulted with the boards of finance and communications and it was agreed to sanction the proposal.

Mr. Fletcher says that a memorial stating specifically that such an agreement would be drawn up in careful detail was submitted on the 20th instant to the Throne and the imperial rescript “Let it be done” was received.

He adds that the note concludes by informing him that the viceroy has been instructed to act accordingly.