[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[35632]
No. 1.
[October 14.]
SECTION 4.
(No. 424.) Sir,
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received October 14.)
Peking, September 21, 1908.
WITH reference to my despatch No. 388 of the 2nd instant, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a despatch from the Acting British Consul-General at Chengtu, respecting the movements of Chao Erh-feng, the Chinese Resident for Thibet.
I am sending a copy of this despatch to the Government of India.
(No. 18.) Sir,
Inclosure in No. 1.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN,
Acting Consul-General Twyman to Sir J. Jordan.
Chengtu, August 23, 1908.
WITH reference to my telegram of to-day's date and to the Intelligence Report for June quarter of this year (Thibetan affairs), I have the honour to inform you that his Excellency Chao Erh-feng, Chinese Resident for Thibet, paid a farewell visit to me to-day before starting on his journey to Lhassa.
His Excellency informed me that he expects to be about three months on the road; he is taking three camps of soldiers ("Hsün Fang Tui"), presumably about 1,500 men. These are, he says, to be employed as a police force for the maintenance of order; but no doubt they are also a precaution against surprises or trouble on the road. There has been, the Resident says, a good deal of dissatisfaction among the lamas of Thibet at his appointment, it being thought from his operations against the lamaseries in 1906 that he was inimical to Thibetan Buddhism, and the former Resident, his Excellency Lien Yu, was requested to memorialize the Throne with a view to its being cancelled; this Lien Yu refused to do.
The road from Tachieolu to Chengtu has recently been improved and has now a width of 10 Chinese feet throughout, and a commodious official rest-house is being constructed at Tachienlu for the use of the Resident and other Government officials travelling between here and the west.
A recent Imperial Decree appoints Weng Tsung Yao Assistant Resident for Thibet, with the rank of Deputy Lieutenant-Governor.
I am sending copy of this despatch to the Government of India.
I have, &c. (Signed) B. TWYMAN.
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