File No. 893.811/230
The American International Corporation to the Secretary of State
Sir: We have the honor to acknowledge receipt of the Department’s letter of the 26th of June,2 transmitting for our information a paraphrase of a telegram, dated June 26, 1916, from the American Minister at Peking, relative to the negotiations for the amendment of the Shantung and Kiangsu Agreements between the American International Corporation and the Chinese Government.
We are today telegraphing Doctor J. N. Gatrell, our representative at Peking, as follows:
Consult American Minister. Refer to his cable to Department June 26. Appreciate difficulties situation. Is it possible cover both present agreements under one agreement with Central Government making terms of bonds all other conditions identical for both loans and treating old agreements as annexes to suggested agreement? Explain this important in order to establish market for bonds in view possibility later undertaking larger work, but make no additional commitment regarding Huai River scheme beyond that contained Kiangsu agreement. If this impossible, what is best you can do? Consult Anderson and secure his assistance in negotiations.
We trust the Department may be pleased to instruct the American Minister at Peking to use his good offices in bringing about the arrangement suggested, which we believe would facilitate our efforts to establish a market for Chinese securities in this country.
We have [etc.]
Vice President
- Not printed.↩