This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
SOUTH-WEST CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 1.
Foreign Office to India Office.
187
[June 1.]
SECTION 1.
Sir,
Foreign Office, June 1, 1903.
I AM directed by the Marquess of Lansdowne to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 20th ultimo, forwarding a telegram from the Acting British Consul at Teng-yüeh to the Government of Burmah, stating that some Chinese officials are about to visit the northern portion of the unsettled frontier between Burmah and China, and recommending certain action in case they should cross the provisional boundary laid down by His Majesty's Government.
Lord Lansdowne proposes, if the Secretary of State for India concurs, to address a communication to the Chinese Government to the effect that they should issue instructions providing that any of their officials who may be making investigations in regard to the frontier and who, while doing so, may be desirous of crossing the provisional line, should previously inform the British officials there of their proposed action.
You are aware that His Majesty's Representative has recently pressed on the Chinese Government the acceptance of the line of the N'Maikha water-shed, and that the latter have in consequence called upon the Viceroy of Yunnan to make investigations with a view to his furnishing a further Report on the matter.
In these circumstances, should it be found that the Chinese officials referred to in Mr. Litton's telegram were sent by his Excellency to obtain information to enable him to furnish the Report in question, their arrest would, in the opinion of Lord Lansdowne, clearly be improper.
I am, &c.
[2021 a- -1]
(Signed)
F. A. CAMPBELL.