15
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
C.O.
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[26566]
No. 1.
READ
[August 8828 SECTION SEP 07
Sir,
Peking Syndicate to Foreign Office.~(Received August 8.)
110, Cannon Street, London, August 7, 1907. I AM instructed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 29th ultimo, notifying my Directors that a copy of their communication to Sir Edward Grey of the 22nd idem, together with the instructions outlined in your letter of the 11th ultimo, had been sent to Sir John Jordan, and that as matters stand it was proposed to await the result of the visit of the Syndicate's Agent-General to Shansi before taking further action.
I am now directed to inclose, for the information of Sir Edward Grey, copy of telegram received yesterday from Mr. Brown, informing the Board that, owing to the absence of his Excellency Ting and his Excellency Liu, Chief of the Shansi Bureau of Trade, nothing practically could be done until their return, except to press for settlement in Peking.
Adverting to the concluding paragraphs of my letter of the 29th May, I am to mention that the French Foreign Office has been approached by the French member of the Board of this Syndicate with a view of securing the co-operation of the French Government in regard to the Syndicate's affairs in China, and my Directors are informed that that Government has cabled to the French Minister in Peking to lend his assistance to Sir John Jordan. I also understand from the letter of the French Director that the French Ambassador in London has been asked to consult with Sir Edward Grey on the subject.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
THOS. GILBERT.
Inclosure in No. 1.
(Translation.) (Telegraphic.)
Mr. Brown to Peking Syndicate, London.
Tien-tsin, August 6, 1907. IT has been reported here that Ting, now on leave of absence since the end of May, will probably return to Taiyuan-fu (capital of Shansi) about the middle of October.
Liu, Chief of Shansi Bureau of Trade, has gone to Japan, and is expected to be absent until the end of September. Nothing practically can be done so long as they are away, except to press for settlement in Peking.
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