This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
2
The Viceroy further states that he has received a despatch from the British Consul-General to the effect that the latter is in receipt of a communication from the Governor (?) of Burmah, stating that under instructions from the Secretary of State for India, it is proposed that to the north of the high peak, the frontier between China and Burmah, should be the range of mountains forming the watershed between the Irawaddy, Great Gold Sand River, and the Lung and Lu Rivers, streams flowing into the Gold Sand River being assigned to Burmah and streams flowing into the Lung and Lu Rivers going to China.
The Consul-General does not mention the N'Maikha River.
The Viceroy has replied that the defining of this portion of the frontier must, in accordance with the Convention, wait until the two Powers have sent officers to make a joint delimitation.
The Board have the honour to observe that on the 10th May, 1900, the Tsung-li Yamen, in a note in reply to Sir C. MacDonald, stated that, as regarded the suggestion of a provisional frontier contained in his note and letter of 1898, the reason why the Yamen had raised no immediate objection was, firstly, that at the time the two Governments were engaged in arranging the delimitation of the frontier prescribed (by the Convention), and that there was naturally no leisure to discuss that part of the boundary for the delimitation of which the Convention did not provide. Secondly, full and accurate information was wanting as to the position of the watershed, and as to how far it coincided with the original boundary of Chinese territory, and so it was not possible to give a hasty answer. The Yamen felt confident that his Excellency the Viceroy of India would not treat a despatch to which China returned no answer as if it were proof of her definite agreement.
In the present note your Excellency states that the watershed of all streams that drain into the N'Maikha, or Little River, from the east, is the natural boundary, but, according to the Viceroy of Yunnan's account of the British Consul-General's despatch, the latter states that it is proposed that to the north of the high peak, the frontier between China and Burmah, should be the range of mountains forming the watershed between the Irrawaddy, or Great Gold Sand River, and the Lung and Lu Rivers, and he does not mention the N'Maikha River.
There are differences in the transliteration of sounds, and if the boundary were forthwith thus defined, it is to be apprehended that misunderstandings between the officials and people of both countries on the frontier could not be avoided.
It is, moreover, necessary to ascertain accurately the features of the country east and west of the watershed, and whether the latter coincides with the original boundary of Chinese territory. The IVth Article of the Burmah Convention provides, in fact, that the settlement of the frontier shall be reserved to be decided by the two Governments when the features and conditions of the country are more accurately known, and the statement of the Viceroy of Yunnan as to both Powers sending officers to make a joint delimitation before a settlement can be made, is in accordance with the procedure prescribed by the Convention.
Between China and Great Britain there are friendly relations of long standing, and if this section of the frontier is settled by joint delimitation, there will be no room for complications between them.
The Board have the honour to request that this reply may be transmitted to His Majesty's Government for their consideration and answer, in order that officers may be appointed for joint delimitation.
I avail, &c.
SOUTH-WEST CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
Sir,
No. 1.
Foreign Office to India Office.
[May 16.] 160
SECTION 1.
Foreign Office, May 16, 1904.
WITH reference to your letter of the 13th ultimo, I am directed by the Marquess of Lansdowne to transmit to you, for any observations which the Secretary of State for India may have to offer, a copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Minister at Peking, inclosing a translation of a note which he has received from the Chinese Government in reply to that which he addressed to them on the 30th January last, on the subject of the proposed boundary between Burmah and China north of latitude 25° 35'.
A copy of the latter note was sent to you on the 5th ultimo.
[1980 q-1]
I am,
&c.
(Signed)
F. A. CAMPBELL.
* Sir E. Satow, No. 86, March 14, 1904.