[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government) 278
AFFAIRS OF CHINA,
[September 23.]
CONFIDENTIAL.
[31726]
No. 1.
SECTION 2.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received September 23.)
(No. 381.) Sir,
Peking, August 7, 1907. ON the receipt of your telegram No. 86 of the 18th ultimo I telegraphed to His Majesty's Consul at Nanking, and inquired if he could obtain any confirmation of the report that a German who was in the confidence of the Viceroy there was endeavouring to secure the post of Instructor in the Chinese navy for a German. Mr. Ker's inquiries led to no result, but he thought it possible that the former German Consul at Nanking, who was transferred to Hankow in April last, may have played such a part. This officer had been attached to Tuan Fang's Mission in Germany and enjoyed his Excellency's confidence. All the information which Mr. Ker was able to furnish on the subject is contained in the inclosure to this despatch.
During a visit which he paid me on the 27th ultimo Wang, the late Minister in London, alluded to naval reorganization as an example of the utter want of interest shown here in questions of national importance. His overtures respecting Wei-hai Wei had been met in a most friendly spirit by His Majesty's Government, but on his return here he noticed no disposition to take advantage of the opportunity that had been offered to China of improving her naval position.
Two days later I touched upon the subject at an interview with the Wai-wu Pu. The Grand Secretary Na and Wang were the Ministers present. They were reminded of what had passed between yourself and Wang Ta-jen on the subject, informed of Vice Admiral Craigie's selection, and invited to state when his services would probably be required.
The reply was indefinite, but not, so far as I could discover, purposely evasive. Wang again admitted the negotiations that had taken place with you, but said that he was not aware that they liad proceeded so far as the selection of any individual officer. He had made inquiries on behalf of the Chinese Government and had received many applications from naval officers for the post while in London.
Both Ministers said that nothing had been decided, and that the question was
really one for the Naval Department of the Army Board.
I shall not fail to act upon the instructions contained in the last paragraph of your telegram, should I be able to obtain any confirmation of the report to which you allude.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
J. N. JORDAN,
[
(Extract.)
Inclosure in No. 1.
Consul Ker to Sir J. Jordan.
Nanking, July 28, 1907.
I HAVE delayed replying to your telegram of 22nd instant in the hope of getting a sidelight on the reported German attempt to impose a German Naval Adviser on China, but I have reported my failure by telegram to-day. I don't know of any German who could be described as in the confidence of Tuan Fang except Von Lohneysen, who was Acting German Consul here after being attached to his Excellency's But he left Mission in Germany, and travelling out with him on the same steamer. last April to take up his new post at Hankow. He would be just the man for an intrigue such as is described. Before he left be succeeded in jockeying Dr. Lambert out of his billet in the Viceroy's Anglo-Chinese hospital, and getting a German doctor appointed when Lambert's two years' contract expires at the end of next month; and he might well have tried this game on in a larger sphere. I am on very friendly terms with Baron von Gebsattel, his successor (and predecessor), but 1 could hardly expect him to give away his colleague or his Government. The Viceroy's right-hand man in foreign matters, Mr. B. C. Wan (Wen Ping Chung), at all times
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