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audience, in which the Imperial personages were seated, but advanced only as far as the foot of the steps leading up to the hall, and there knelt down on one knee, their eyes being, according to instructions, directed on the ground. The Emperor inquired after the health of his Highness the Maharajah, and whether the Mission had had a successful journey. The Kaji, through his interpreter, returned favourable replies to His Majesty's questions, and the Mission then withdrew. The ceremony of the "kotow" was not performed, nor does it seem to have ever been the custom, as far as these Missions are concerned, as the Envoy told me that everything on this occasion was done strictly according to precedent. In fact, he complained somewhat bitterly of Chinese conservatism, and seemed to imply that his exclusion from the actual Presence was not entirely to his taste.
The Kaji is anxious to set out on his return journey, as he finds that the summer climate of Peking does not suit his health or that of the members of his retinue. He told me that the servants in attendance on the Mission while in Peking are all paid by the Chinese Government, and he feared it was to the interest of their pockets to detain him in the capital as long as possible. He intended, however, to make inquiries of the Chinese officials, who occasionally visit him, as to the probable date of his farewell audience and the issue of his passport.
The Envoy expressed his deep gratitude for the various services of kindness which he had received from this Legation.
Peking, July 5, 1908.
(Signed)
P. GRANT JONES.
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[31744]
No. 1.
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[September 12-J
17 NOV 08
SECTION 2.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received September 12.)
(No. 150.) (Telegraphic.) P.
PEKING-HANKOW Railway.
Peking, September 12, 1908.
On the 9th instant, the day before the receipt of your telegram No. 115 on the subject of the redemption loan, Mr. E. G. Hillier and I met Tong Shao Yi at the Legation and requested his good offices in explaining to Yuan Shi Kai the nature of the alternative offer, and in impressing on him and on the other Ministers the advisability of adhering to it.
Hillier was informed to-day by Tong that Yuan sees no great objection to this solution of the difficulty, so I think it would be better to await the result of this step before telegraphing to you my views on the question, as requested in your above-mentioned telegram, especially as Hillier hopes that there is some prospect of the loan being concluded on this basis.
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