[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[29337]
No. 1.
0.
42178
[August 24.
17 NOV 08
SECTION 7,
1
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received August 24.)
(No. 308. Confidential.) Sir,
Peking, July 7, 1908. WITH reference to my despatch No. 260 of the 5th ultimo, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a Memorandum, which has been drawn up by Mr. Jones, whom I have frequently deputed to inquire after the health and comfort of the Nepalese Envoy, on the subject of a conversation which he had with the Kaji on the occasion of his last visit.
It had been my desire to ascertain, if possible, more definitely what form of ceremonial was employed at the Envoy's audience with the Emperor, and Mr. Jones informs me that he found the Kaji quite ready to impart full information on the subject, his remarks suggesting a mild ridicule of the rigid observance of formalities which he apparently considered to be hardly in keeping with the actual relations which at present exist between his native country and the Empire of China.
The ceremonial at the audience appears to have adhered strictly to the rules which have governed such interviews in the past, and the articles brought by the Mission for presentation to the Throne to have been of the same kind as those enumerated in the inclosure to Sir N. O'Conor's despatch No. 164 of the 30th April, 1895. The translation of the letter from the Maharajah to the Emperor, which was handed to me by the Envoy himself, is identical in wording with that furnished in 1895 by Colonel Wylie, then Resident in Nepal, which formed Inclosure 1 in despatch of the 10th September of that year from the Government of India to His Majesty's Secretary of State, and, according to the statement made at the time by the Minister of Nepal to the Resident, the terms of the document would appear to have been settled at the end of the previous century.
At a recent interview which I had with the Kaji, I found him less disposed than on a previous occasion to advocate the discontinuance of these Missions. He spoke of them as "a harmless and friendly practice," and considered them of some use in promoting friendly relations between Nepal and China in Tibet.
I should mention that the Kaji is taking lessons in surveying from one of our Indian surveyors, with the view of making a road map of his journey on his way back.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
Inclosure in No. 1.
Memorandum by Mr. Jones.
I SAW the Nepalese Envoy this afternoon and obtained from him the following information respecting his audience :—
The Envoy first saw the Emperor on the 24th April. This took place in a courtyard of the Palace, when, the Kaji and his suite (sixteen in number) kneeling on one knee, the Emperor was carried past them in his chair, apparently on his way to worship. The Mission were dressed in Nepalese uniform.
The presents which the Mission had brought for the Emperor were sent to the Palace on the following day. They consisted of four elephant tusks, bales of cloth of gold, silk brocade and other stuffs, and spices.
Two sets of official robes were subsequently presented to each member of the Mission, one set for summer and the other for winter wear. The Envoy's robes were of rich silk and the winter garments were lined with sable. The Kaji himself received the coral button of the first rank, his suite the blue button.
The audience took place early on the morning of the 5th May, both the Emperor and the Empress Dowager being present. The Mission did not enter the hall of
[1905 aa-7]