HERAL
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government..
SOUTH-WEST CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 1.
347
[January 28.]
SECTION 1.
Sir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.-(Received January 28, 1905.)
(No. 399.) My Lord,
Peking, November 24, 1904. IN continuation of my despatch No. 393 of the 17th November, inclosing Prince Ching's reply to my note of the 27th October with regard to the proposed dispatch of British and Chinese officers to the watershed between the N'Maika and Salwen Rivers with a view to the determination of the boundary north of latitude 25° 35' between Burmah and China, I have the honour to observe in the first place that his Highness, in quoting the language of my note, omits that part of it which states that the further exploration carried out by British officials confirms the view that Chinese officials have never exercised any authority or control to the west of the watershed.
The Chinese language is not so precise in the use of technical terms as English, and, consequently, the word employed in the Chinese reply to describe the task to be intrusted to the officers deputed on both sides may be rendered "survey," "examina- tion," or "delimitation."
The first of these, therefore, does not necessarily imply a survey by means of instruments and the preparation of topographical plans, nor should delimitation be taken to signify a definite tracing out of a boundary line, the erection of pillars or cairns, and their formal enumeration in a document to which the officers on both sides attach their signatures. It is consequently impossible to say whether the Prince's reply is to be construed as agreeing to a mere inspection of the topographical features, or whether it might not also be interpreted as intending the complete process of delimitation or demarcation, such as bas already been carried out on two considerable. sections of the frontier.
Again, in the proposal which I made to the Chinese Government by your Lordship's instructions, nothing of the nature of a joint investigation or inquiry into the facts was included. The proposal was that His Majesty's Government should send officers to accompany such Representatives of the Chinese Government as might be appointed, and to point out to them the true position of affairs as ascertained in the course of the most recent explorations conducted on our side. His Highness' reply seems to assume that our proposal was that the Chinese officers shall proceed to make the survey (or examination or delimitation) in co-operation with the officers appointed by Great Britain. It is evident that the Viceroy and Governor of Yunnan, who are speaking through the mouth of Prince Ching, take it for granted that a joint inquiry will take place. The appointment of the Acting Taotai of Tengyueh, instead of himself deputing subordinates of his own, lends colour to the supposition that their Excellencies interpret our proposal as involving a Frontier Commission on something like the same scale of importance as on previous occasions.
Considering, however, that a present attempt to clear up the apparent ambiguity might lead to misapprehension on the part of the Chinese Government of the course which the Government of India desire to pursue, and that something will have been attained if direct discussion is initiated between the provincial officials and the Burmah authorities, it seems more advisable at this stage to defer further discussion in Peking, and to proceed with the nomination of the British officers who will proceed on this duty. As your Lordship is aware, in a question of this kind the Central Government will always refuse to commit themselves to any decision which has not already been accepted by the provincial authorities immediately concerned, and negotiations carried on exclusively at Peking might drag on for years without any definite result.
I reported the above briefly in my telegram No. 249 of the 19th instant, which was also repeated to India.
A copy of this despatch will be forwarded to the Government of India, to the Governor of Burmah, and to His Majesty's Consul-General at Yünnan-fu.
I have, &c. (Signed) ERNEST SATOW,
[1802 ee--1]