This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government
CONFIDENTIAL.
[23604]
No. 1.
R. 23 EP 08
[July 8.]
SECTION 2.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received July 8.)
(No. 133. Confidential.) (Telegraphic.) P.
Peking, July 8, 1908. COUNT REX, the German Minister, has communicated to the Chinese Government the instructions he has received to the effect that, in accordance with the desire of the Ottoman Government, Turkish interests in this country are to be placed under the charge of the German Legation.
The Wai-wu Pu have consulted Sir W. Hillier on the subject, who has drawn their attention to the possibility of Germany and Japan putting forward claims to represent Persian and Siamese interests in China, and to the hampering influence which such conditions would exert on the Chinese efforts to restrict the importation of opium. (Please see in this connection my despatch No. 152 of the 31st March). He has therefore advised the Chinese to reply that they cannot agree to Germany representing Turkish interests, though they have no objection to the German Legation forwarding to them despatches from the Sultan or the Ottoman Government, adding that they cannot recognize any claims on the part of Turkish subjects in China to extra-territorial privileges.
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