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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL,
No. 1.
[April 22.]
SECTION 1.
:
Sir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.-(Received April 22.)
(No. 74. Confidential.) My Lord,
Peking, March 1, 1905.
I RECENTLY received a despatch from His Majesty's Consul-General at Yunnan-fu containing some interesting information respecting the establishment in These amount at China of agencies of the Indo-Chinese Postal Administration. present to seven in number-Mengtzu, Yünnan-fu, Chunking, Ichang, Pakhoi, Hoihow, and Canton-and, according to the "Courrier d'Haiphong," which published an article on the subject, they will be gradually increased.
Mr. Wilkinson states that the last five of the above-mentioned agencies were established ostensibly on the ground that, as China was not a member of the Postal Union, it was necessary, in her interests, for France to furnish a link with the outside world whereby matter could be freely forwarded and postal remittances made. He points out that, if this had been the real motive of their establishment, why should an agency have been set up at Canton, where there was a British post-office ? Why also should the French postal agencies of Western Kwangtung, of Yunnan, and ou the Upper Yang-tsze be confided to Indo-China, while those at Tien-tsin and Shanghae, outside the sphere of French interests, are under the General Post Office of Paris?
The employés of the Indo-China Government receive their pay from the agencies at Mongtzu and Yunnan-fu. The latter dispatches a daily mail to Mengtzu, and thence to Tonquin, a weekly mail to Chungking, and a bi-monthly one to Kueiyang. This agency also forwards in closed bags all letters received by it for Western Asia These bags are handed to and Europe to Bhamo and, via Rangoon, to Marseilles. the Imperial Chinese Post Office, which maintains a courier service every four days between Yünnan-fu and Tengyuch. Mr. Wilkinson says that there is no doubt of the existence in Tonquin of a cabinet noir, although it is maintained that letters are only opened in the interests of justice.
Sir Robert Hart, to whom I showed Mr. Wilkinson's despatch, states that he has While been much embarrassed in postal work by the doings of these alien offices. recognizing their desirability at such Treaty ports as are postal mail lines termini, he has opposed their extension inland. He complains that the Chinese Government back him up in a very half-hearted way, and that the allowance given for expenditure is inadequate, for, although the Board of Foreign Affairs promised a subsidy of 720,000 taels a-year, not more than a third of that sum has as yet been extracted from the provincial officials.
Sir Robert observes that no doubt this postal work is regarded as a good wedge to drive into the interior in order to consolidate "spheres," open up new interests, and entangle China in recognitions and obligations. But the convenient way in which Colonial or Postal Ministries are able to try experiments rather nullifies the sympathy with Chinese claims expressed by the Legations. The Roman Catholic missionaries are established everywhere, and, if the funds suffice, France can open a network of Germany, with her post-offices over the whole Empire with the greatest ease. developing railways, and Japan, with her growth on inland waters, have also starting- points and spheres.
In spite of this, Sir Robert Hart expresses his confidence in the future, "unless a complete smash-up comes along, as some anticipate,”
I have, &c. (Signed) ERNEST SATOW.
[1921 y-1]
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