[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[29248]
No. 1.
[August 22.]
SECTION 2.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received August 22.)
(No. 147.) (Telegraphic.) P.
Peking, August 22, 1908.
MACAO. The appeal made to you by the Portuguese Minister, which forms the subject of your telegram No.112 of yesterday's date, follows on the receipt by his Government of the views I have expressed to the Portuguese Chargé d'Affaires here, in my almost daily interviews with him, to the effect that China would not, in my opinion, accept the demand for the removal of her troops, and that, if pressed on this point, the Chinese might very likely retaliate by refusing to appoint Delegates to the Mixed Commission.
Only a far more comprehensive knowledge of all the circumstances of the case than can be obtained here could possibly justify us in supporting the demand for the recall of the Chinese troops. The speedy appointment of a Commission would be materially hastened, in my opinion, were the Portuguese to give way on this point.
The Wai-wu Pu addressed a note the other day to the Portuguese Chargé d'Affaires wherein they implied that Macao was only "leased territory." I was able, however, to induce the Chinese to withdraw this statement.
I fear that the difficulties attendant at the present time on any endeavour to arrive at a solution of the Macao question are far greater even than those which led to the failure of Senhor Branco's negotiations with the Chinese Government in 1902 and the two following years (see print volumes, "Affairs of China," 1902-4).
[1905 y-2]
135