This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[16871]
No. 1,
234
[June 8.]
SECTION 1.
Sir,
Sir Eduard Grey to Mr. Ivan điện
Foreign Office, June 8, 1907. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 23rd ultimo, informing me that there have recently appeared signs of great activity among conspirators and agitators in the various provinces of China. You state that cases of arms and ammunition secretly imported from abroad have been seized at several places by the Imperial Customs authorities, and you request that His Majesty's Government may co-operate with the Imperial Chinese Government in the efforts which they are making towards frustrating the designs of the conspirators and their accomplices.
His Majesty's Government learn with regret the information contained in your note, and I have the honour to inform you that they are ready to give careful consideration to any proposals which the Chinese Government may make to them on the subject.
In this connection I have the honour to remind you that the Government of Hong Kong prohibit the exportation of arms from that Colony except when they are required for the use of the Chinese Government. It is not proposed to remove the prohibition for the present, and the Secretary of State for the Colonies will be requested to warn the Government of Hong Kong of the necessity for the utmost vigilance being shown at the present juncture, to prevent the importation into China of arms and ammunition from the Colony.
I am, &c. (Signed) E. GREY.
[2524 h-1]