6
be promptly telegraphed to the Intendant of the Western Circuit to give orders to the local authorities along the route to afford efficient protection as before.
Requesting the favour of an acknowledgment, he avails himself, &c.
Postscript. The Consul-General observes that in its issue of the 6th (21st December), the "Tien-nan Ch'ao-pao" ("Yunnan Gazette") contains a telegram from Li K'un and others to the Wai-wu Pu, in which the phrase occurs: "If the British are once allowed to cross the frontier, it is to be feared that a grave calamity will ensue." This is to instigate to a breach of the peace; but by Article IX of the Treaty of Tien-tsin "British subjects are authorized to travel to all parts of the interior under passports, and no opposition shall be offered."
The present proceedings on the part of these gentlemen-instigating to a breach of the Treaty Regulations is most reprehensible. The Consul General is reporting it by telegraph to His Majesty's Minister at Peking; meanwhile, he would ask the Governor General to summon these gentry and severely punish them, both as a warning to others and for the sake of international comity. At the same time he would ask his Excellency to insert in the "Tien-nan Ch'ao-pao" a statement of the punishment inflicted,
Inclosure 5 in No. 1.
Department of Foreign Affairs, Yunnan-fu, to Kuan, Tuotai at Tengyueh.
(Translation.) (Telegraphic.)
13th of the 11th moon (December 28, 1906). BURMAH officials coming to Yunnan to travel request the issue of passports. "Travelling" is included in the Treaty Regulations; hence consent must be given. Along the route efficient protection alone must be afforded by the local authorities.
We have ascertained by inquiry from Consul-General Wu (Wilkinson) that the Burmah official Lei Ya-pai (Abram Lilley) starts this month from Burmah. On this journey he will not bring many persons with him, and it is simply for travelling. We trust your Department, together with Ting Taotai, being on the spot, will smoothly arrive at a mutual arrangement with Consul Ao (Ottewill) for satisfactory action, issuing passports and giving orders to your subordinates for efficient protection.
Submitted (to His Majesty's Consul-General) on the 13th of the 11th moon.
(Seal.)
!This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[4394]
(No. 77.) Sir,
No. 1.
Sir Edward Grey to Sir J. Jordan.
427
€70.
9150
[February 12]
SECTIONRIGE 12 MAR 07,
Foreign Office, February 19, 1907. I HAVE received your despatch No. 540 of the 23rd December, 1906, relative to the action of Mr. Bland and M. Casenave with regard to negotiations with the Viceroy of Wuchang relative to a loan from the British and Chinese Corporation for the construction of the Canton-Hankow Railway.
I approve your action as described in that despatch, and I request that you will express to Mr. Consul-General Fraser my satisfaction at the judicious manner in which he handled the situation.
I am,
&c.
[2368 -1]
(Signed)
E. GREY.
0