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(This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
O.
37616
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[21017]
No. 1.
[June 19.]
SECTION 1.
(No. 47.) Sir,
Sir Edward Grey to Sir F. Villiers.
Foreign Office, June 19, 1908.
THE Marquis de Soveral communicated to me on the 11th instant a telegram from his Government to the following effect :-
China was evidently endeavouring to raise difficulties between herself and the Portuguese. The refusal of amicable mediation (accepted by the British Government) had encouraged her to persevere in her attitude towards the Portuguese. Portuguese Government, following the advice of the British Government, had not sent a war-ship to Macao. But in view of the provocation on the part of the Chinese Government and the representations of the Governor of Macao, the Portuguese Government thought it impossible to continue to leave that territory entirely unprotected and exposed to action at the hands of the Chinese Government, which demonstrated increasing ill-will every day.
The Portuguese Government had acted with all circumspection, and had met the Chinese wishes in regard to the repression of the contraband trade in arms. In view of the fresh incident which had occurred, the Portuguese Government requested that the Marquis de Soveral would invite such British intervention as would effectually put an end to an impossible situation.
The Governor of Macao had telegraphed that a mandarin's vessel which entered the inner harbour had refused to sign the register of entry, alleging orders from the Viceroy, and declaring that the waters were Chinese. The Governor had sent a request, through the Harbour-master, that the register should be signed. The Chinese vessel had refused, and had been ordered to leave before 5 o'clock, and never to re-enter Macao. She had left about five. This extraordinary action, which the Governor feared would be repeated, indicated an intention to raise a conflict which Portuguese dignity could not permit, and the Governor urgently requested the dispatch of a war-ship.
I observed to him that I had not advised against sending a Portuguese war-ship. The Marquis de Soveral said that in his first conversation with me I had advised against any action which was likely to be provocative.
I told him that applied to any action undertaken to turn the Chinese out of disputed territory. The Chinese had hitherto explained to me that their action was within the limits of the status quo of 1887. The boundary between Chinese and Portuguese territory never having been delimited, the Chinese considered that the status quo should be maintained. It appeared to me, however, that the claim communicated in the telegram that the inner harbour of Macao was Chinese water could not be reconciled with the status quo of 1887. I would therefore telegraph to Sir John Jordan to get some explanation of the claim.
The Marquis de Soveral said that of course Portugal looked to us as bound by Treaty to respect her territory.
I told him that after he first spoke to me I had explained to the Chinese Minister that there was an ancient Treaty between Portugal and us to this effect, and that it was still in force. This was our reason for taking an interest in the matter.
I must, however, add that, after what had happened between the Chinese and ourselves about piracy, our sympathies were with the Chinese in their desire to restrict the contraband trade in arms, and we must give them our diplomatic support to secure a satisfactory settlement of that. On this point the Marquis de Soveral said the Portuguese Government were quite ready to meet the Chinese.
I am,
&c. (Signed)
E. GREY.
[1819 -1]