2
He replied that he would do so, and could assure me that China was not actuated by any hostility whatever to the British Government.
I again impressed upon him that we were not asking for anything new which could be embarrassing to China; that we were entirely favourable to her progress by her own efforts; but that it was essential that engagements into which she had already entered should be loyally fulfilled.
The Chinese Minister asked me whether I should be able to give him an answer as to Wei-hai Wei next week.
I said the matter was one of great importance, and I could not promise him an answer as soon as that. All I could do was to receive the communication he had now made to me, and to consult my colleagues regarding it.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
EDWARD GREY.
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
766 A
[October 6.]
SECTION
[32691]
Sir,
No. 1.
Foreign Office to India Office.
CO39437
RECR Pref 26 001 06
Foreign Office, October 6, 1906. I am directed by Secretary Sir Edward Grey to acknowledge the receipt of the communication from your Department of the 27th ultimo, transmitting copy of a telegram from the Viceroy of India with regard to the proposal that the Tengyueh Railway negotiations should be combined with those for the settlement of the question of the Namting-Nalawt section of the Burmah-China boundary.
I am to suggest, for the consideration of the Secretary of State for India, that it would not be advisable to connect the Tengyueh Railway negotiations with frontier question. Frontier questions invariably lead to almost interminable discussions with the Chinese Government, and there would, in the opinion of Sir Edward Grey, be a better prospect of the railway negotiations being brought to a successful issue within a reasonable time if they were conducted independently of the negotiations respecting the frontier.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
F. A. CAMPBELL.
[2183 ƒ-1]