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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government. 457
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
9970
[December 6.]
CONFIDENTIAL.
(40930]
No. 1.
REG: 19 MAR 07. SECTION 3.
India Office to Foreign Office.-(Received December 6.)
Sir,
India Office, December 5, 1906. IN continuation of my letter of the 13th ultimo, I am directed by the Secretary of State for India to forward, for the information of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, copy of a telegram dated the 9th ultimo from the Government of India, together with further correspondence received from that Government, on the subject of the proposed Bhamo-Tengyuch Railway.
With regard to the local opposition to the survey reported in the present telegram, I am to say that Mr. Morley agrees with the Governments of Burmah and of India, and desires, unless Sir E. Grey sees any objection, that Consul-General Wilkinson may be authorized, unless there is serious opposition, to treat the reconnaissance as an integral part of the survey conducted last season, discretion being, however, left to him to modify his attitude, should circumstances make a change expedient.
From the concluding portion of the telegram it will be seen that the Government of India think it desirable that stress should be laid at Peking on the pledge contained in Prince Ching's note of the 16th March, 1902. Sir E, Grey will, no doubt, consider whether any instructions to that effect should be sent to His Britannic Majesty's Minister at Peking.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
HORACE WALPOLE.
(Telegraphic.) P.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Government of India to Mr. Morley.
November 9, 1906. IN reference to the Bhamo-Tengyueh Railway project and to the reconnaissance onwards towards Talifu. Please see Consul-General Wilkinson's telegram reporting attempts made by small but noisy opposition to induce Governor-General of Yunnan to revoke his consent to survey party crossing the frontier. See also his subsequent telegrams of 21st and 31st October.
Unless the local opposition is serious, I agree with the Burmah Government in thinking that perhaps Consul-General might be instructed to treat further reconnaissance as integral part of last season's railway survey, and merely to inform Yunnan Govern- ment of composition of survey party and of date of their despatch, at the same time intimating that they will require protection similar to that given to last year's party. But if no reference is to be made to other cases pending with China in carrying forward the present question, it certainly seems desirable that British Minister at Peking should lay stress on the pledge given by the Chinese Government on the 16th March, 1902, that the British would be given privileges in Yunnan equal to those given to the French,
(Repeated to Lieutenant-Governor of Burmah and His Britannic Majesty's Minister at Peking.)
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Government of Burmah to Government of India.
(Telegraphic.) P.
October 24, 1906. PLEASE refer to my telegram dated 15th October. The following telegram from Wilkinson to the British Minister at Peking was repeated to me on 21st October :----
"Petition of the Directors has been telegraphed to Wai-wu Pu by Governor- General, who suggests consultation between Wai-wu Pu and you. It is believed that
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