This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.}
AFFAIRS OF CHINA,
CONFIDENTIAL.
[34664]
No. 1.
403
[October 21.]
SECTION 4.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received October 21.)
(No. 417) Sir,
AT an interview which I had with the Wai-wu Pu yesterday I again directed the
Peking, August 28, 1907. attention of the Ministers to the various outstanding piracy cases at Canton, and explained that I had abstained from pressing them lately in view of the uncertainty which prevailed as to the movements of the ex-Viceroy Ts'en. Now that it had been definitely decided that he was not to proceed to Canton and a new Viceroy had been appointed, I could defer no longer appealing to them for a settlement of these questions and a prompt fulfilment of the undertaking they had given me to introduce a scheme which would prevent the recurrence of similar troubles in the future.
The circumstances connected with the last piracy case, the details of which were recited, fully justified all I had urged on this subject with such wearisome reiteration for nearly a year, and neither China's self-respect nor the respect which every Power was bound to secure for its flag could tolerate a continuance of these outrages.
The Grand Secretary, Na Tung, admitted in general terms the justice of my contentions, and his language appeared to hold out hopes of an early settlement. The change of Viceroy would, he thought, greatly facilitate matters, and Chang Ta-jên, with whom he had a personal acquaintance, would, as a newcomer, have no precon ceived idens about cases which had occurred in the time of his predecessor. As soon as Sir Robert Hart returned from the seaside he would receive instructions from the Revenue Council respecting the four cruisers for which funds would be forthcoming. In reporting these assurances, I think it necessary to add that the difficulty in arriving at a settlement of the questions has rested not so much with the Central Government as with the provincial authorities at Canton, who have uniformly disregarded the instructions sent them from Peking.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
[2692 x-4