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This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL,
R 4 AUG DE
[June 29.]
SECTION 5.
[22273]
(No. 204.) Sir,
No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received June 29.)
Peking, May 11, 1908.
I HAVE the honour to inclose copies of correspondence which has passed between Vice-Admiral Sir H. Lambton, Commander-in-chief on the China Station, and myself regarding the navigation of the Poyang Lake by His Majesty's ships.
His Majesty's ship "Teal"
was stopped last month at the entrance to the lake by the Chinese authorities in the circumstances stated in the inclosure to the Commander-in-chief's letter of the 30th April, and I thought it advisable, therefore, to summarize briefly the past action in this question for the information of Sir H. Lambton, and to suggest that before one of His Majesty's ships again proceeds to the Poyang Lake under the authorization of 1905, a verbal intimation of the proposed visit should be given to the Taotai through His Majesty's Consul at Kiukiang.
The correspondence inclosed in my despatch of the 7th May to the Commander-in-chief will be found in the following volumes of Confidential Print: "Affairs of China," Part 50, pp. 18 and 19; Part 53, p. 20; and Part 54, pp. 113 and 123.
I have, &c.
(Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
Sir,
Inclosure I in No. 1.
Vice-Admiral Sir H. Lambton to Sir J. Jordan.
"King Alfred," at Hong Kong, April 18, 1908.
I HAVE the honour to acquaint your Excellency that it has been reported to me that on a recent occasion when His Majesty's ship Teal was entering the Poyang Lake she was stopped by the Chinese officials at Hu Kan and asked to give a reason for entering the lake, and the Commanding Officer was informed that he could not proceed without obtaining permission from the Chinese authorities.
This appears to be contrary to the terms of the Treaty, by which His Majesty's ships are permitted to visit inland Chinese waters, and the incident is one which perhaps it would be well not to allow to pass unnoticed.
I have, &c.
(Signed) H. LAMBTON.
Sir,
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Vice-Admiral Sir H. Lambton to Sir J. Jordan.
"Alacrity," at Shanghae, April 30, 1908.
IN continuation of my letter of the 18th instant, I have the honour to forward, your Excellency's information, copy of a letter from the Commanding Officer of His Majesty's ship "Teal," reporting the circumstances under which that ship was stopped by the Chinese military authorities on entering the Poyang Lake.
I have, &c.
(Signed) H. LAMBTON.
[1819-5]