This year Chang Tso-lin was ap: proached directly by the concessionaries and his endorsement of {the project obtained. The ruler of manchuria summoned two Kirin jOficials to Mukden and instructed them to draft the railway agreement with the Japanese Development Company and to sign it on behalf of their province. Accord. ing to the Manchurian papers these officials were T'ao Pin, the taoyin of Yenchi district, and a certain Mr. Ts'ai, presumably the commissioner of foreign affairs for the] province. It is said here that T'ao Pin objected strongly to granting the concession and tried to avoid
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.