File No. 893.51/1014.
The American Minister to the Secretary of State.
Peking, July 24, 1912.
The Chinese Government has asked the Baldwin Locomotive Works for a loan of £300,000 for five or eight years on condition that during that period China purchase locomotives to the same amount. The Baldwin agent here wishes to know the attitude of the American Government. I call attention to the negotiations proceeding with various commercial houses, probably without the consent of their Governments, which seem likely to secure for Europe for some years to come Chinese markets in which the United States is interested.