File No. 893.77/1541

The American Group to the Secretary of State

Dear Sir: We are in receipt of your letter of June 2 in which reference is made to ours of March 31, and enclosing a copy of Despatch No. 1037 dated April 20, 1916 from the American Legation at Peking, as well as a copy of the loan contract with the Russo-Asiatic Bank for the construction of a railway from Harbin to Mergen to be known as the Pin-Hei Line.

In reply to the second paragraph of your communication, we advise that we have no knowledge of any negotiations with American bankers with respect to their participation in the financing of this contract, and that our position with respect to our rights under the Chinchow-Aigun Railway agreement remains as stated in our letter of March 31 to the Department. We have no desire to suggest that a protest to the Chinese Government be made at this time on our behalf, and presume that the Department of State will make one if, for reasons of State, the Department should consider it to be necessary or advisable.

Your obedient servants,

Tele American Group,
By J. P. Morgan and Co.