453
(Translation.)
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Inclosure 17 in No. 1.
Report by Taotai Shih to Governor-General, Yünnan-fu.
I, THE Acting Taotai, respectfully beg to submit the following report, together with a map of the frontier,
In January last I had the honour to receive the instructions of the Governor- General that his Excellency had received an express per the Board of War at Peking (with orders concerning the joint examination of the frontier).
[Here the Taotai quotes a telegram which he sent to Yünnan-fu proposing arrange- inents for the frontier party's proceedings.]
We, as I proposed, were to proceed on this service until the rains, and then after the malarions season to continue our survey if not completed.
These proposals were contained in a telegram to the high authorities at Yüunan-fu,
I then agreed with Consul Litton to start in February last, but owing to the roads being blocked by snow we had to put off the date for a few days. Finally, we proceeded to Ku Yang, where we met on the 3rd March, and thence we proceeded to the border.
On a previous occasion the frontier had only been demarcated up to the high conical peak known to the Kachins as Manung Pum. I therefore directed the various officers with me to conduct the survey cadets by various routes,* and, co-operating with the Burmah officials, to proceed from Manung Pum in a northerly direction, connecting on their survey as they went.
I then passed over the Kao Li Kung range and advanced as far as the proper boundary of Li Chiang, which is the furthest point of Burmah-Yunnan frontier.
Early in May we completed our survey of this north section of the frontier, and I then returned to my yamên, the officers of my suite arriving at Tengyuch on various dates before and after me.
I have already reported by telegram the date of my return and the general results of our joint examination.
The map prepared by our officers has now been compared with‡ the map produced by the Consul; the two are found to agree in every particular.
I have also received an official communication from Mr. Litton, that on the conclusion of a survey of the frontier it has been usual for both parties to seal the map. On this occasion, however, the boundary officers had no power to delimit, and the map has been sealed merely as a guarantee of its accuracy. It must not be assumed that a final agreement has therefore been come to.
This statement appears to be in accordance with precedent; the maps have therefore been sealed by both parties and a note to the above effect entered on them.
As regards this section of the border, Mr. Litton wishes the main divide to be accepted as the frontier, while I suggest the left bank of the Ngaw Chang. I have received Mr. Litton's despatch on the subject, in which he states that if the country beyond the great divide is to be subject to the control of the Chinese officials great inconvenience will arise. He points out that, on the occasion of a former demarcation, the Kachin Hills were assigned to the Sawbwas of Meng Mao and Meng Wan, who up to the present have been unable to control their Kachins, with the result that the Government of Burmah has suffered damage and has been compelled to establish military guards at a heavy cost; but that it was agreed that the Meng Mao triangle should be leased, which had resulted in great benefits to both parties. If it is now feared that by accepting his line the Chinese Headmen will suffer injury, Mr. Litton proposes that we should act according to the precedent of the Meng Mao triangle and grant a lease in perpetuity; rent on a liberal scale will be paid to the Chinese officials, who will distribute it to their Headmen at discretion and not subject to the intervention of Burmah.
Mr. Litton's general description of the conditions of the country is correct, but there appear to be some inaccuracies in his deductions; it was therefore my duty to reply to him on the facts.
* This is Chinese nonsense; none of their people had the faintest idea of surveying.-G. L
† Le., along the Salween.-G. L.
Not compared with, but copied from.-G. L
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Further, as on this occasion there was only a survey and no delimitation, it would not be proper for me to assume the sole responsibility of assenting to Mr. Litton's proposals.
The full details of our discussions are set forth in my reply to Mr. Litton, copy of which I have the honour to submit separately, and therefore need not here quote at large. It is now my duty to submit this report, together with the maps of the northern section of the Burmah-Yunnan boundary, a copy of Mr. Litton's despatch to me, and of my reply mentioned above, to the High Provincial Government, requesting their Excellencies to consider the matter and favour me with instructions.
June 1, 1905.
[This report and copies of documents inclosed were sent to the Viceroy of Yunnan, to the Board of Foreign Affairs, to the Provincial Treasurer, and to the Board of Reorganization at Yunnan-fu.
G. L]
Inclosure 18 in No. 1.
Sketch Maps.
[Not printed.]
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(Initialled)