File No. 893.811/104.
Minister Reinsch to the Secretary of State.
Peking, January 23, 1914.
* * * The Minister of Communications is prepared to offer me, in favor of the American Red Cross, an exclusive right to undertake the Huai conservancy work on the terms embodied in the following memorandum, which is the result of long-continued painstaking negotiations in which every phase was considered:
[Here follows the text of the memorandum, printed hereafter as inclosure with Mr. Reinsch’s despatch No. 18 of February 3, 1914.]
For position of chief engineer, army engineer preferred. Work offers task worthy of highest talent both from point of view of engineering and of model execution of most important public work beginning a new era in China’s development. Mr. Jameson to be retained as general adviser, which is acceptable to him provided a man of first order can be sent as chief engineer. I also suggest desirability of immediately sending army engineer expert in reclamation work, accompanied possibly by engineer representing construction company selected in order to make examination on the spot and give opinion on the plans of Jameson, who supports this suggestion.
Please cable whether I am authorized in behalf of Red Cross to accept preliminary agreement embodied in memorandum. As the Chinese Government is forced to make a decision now, prompt action is necessary.