This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government,
32
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
C
CONFIDENTIAL.
[19838]
No. 1.
0.
27616
RECR
[June 9:]
15 001 08
SECTION 6.
(No. 212.) Sir,
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received June 9.)
Peking, May 12, 1908. IN continuation of my despatch No. 103 of the 2nd March, regarding the purchase by a German subject of Lot 88 A in the British Concession at Hankow, I have the honour to report on the circumstances which led to my telegram No. 87 of the 28th ultimo.
In a private letter of the 2nd April, His Majesty's Consul-General pointed out that the question of the transfer of this lot was complicated by the fact that it was part of a deceased estate, the beneficiaries under which are British Indians and Chinese, not at all well-to-do. The house could have been let if the German purchaser's claim to it had not stood in the way. Mr. Fraser suggested, in the interests of all parties, that, as the transfer remained unsanctioned, the purchase by auction should be considered annulled.
On learning from your telegram No. 69 of the 28th ultimo that there was no likelihood of the question with the German Government being settled for some time, I represented the above circumstances to the German Minister, and he telegraphed to Berlin for instructions. The reply, I gathered, was to the effect that they could not give us in their Concessions the same terms as Germans have hitherto enjoyed in British Concessions, and that they proposed to negotiate with the Governments of Great Britain and France for a recognition of the principles advocated by them.
As this would evidently require time, we agreed that the actual case of Lot 88 A should be disposed of by informing the purchaser that the transfer could not be sanctioned. I accordingly instructed His Majesty's Consul-General in this sense, by telegraph, on the 11th instant.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN,
(1819 i-6)
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