128
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government
C.O.
13949
REG 24 APR 09) [April 1.]
CHINA TRADE,
CONFIDENTIAL.
[11543]
No. 1.
SECTION 1.
Memorandum communicated to Mr. Bryce.
HIS Majesty's Minister at Peking duly reported to His Majesty's Government the receipt of the note from the Wai-wu Pu on the subject of Tariff and li-kin, to which reference is made in Mr. Whitelaw Reid's note of the 24th ultimo. Sir J. Jordan was authorized at the time to inform Yuan-shi-Kai, in reply, that His Majesty's Government were ready to support the proposal of the Chinese Government, on condition that the latter carried out practical measures for the reform of the currency, the issue of Mining Regulations, and the enforcement generally of the provisions of the Commercial Treaty of 1902 between Great Britain and China. As regards currency reform, it is evident that the Chinese Government will be able to effect nothing of practical value without expert foreign assistance, and Sir J. Jordan was instructed to stipulate for such assistance. He was further requested to make it clear that compliance with the Chinese request did not derogate from the right of His Majesty's Government to insist on the status quo, as regards Tariff and li-kin being maintained if the co-operation of other Treaty Powers could not be assured.
Owing to the fall of Yuan-shi-Kai, His Majesty's Minister was unable to make a communication in the above sense to that statesman, and the situation was, in his opinion, too obscure at that time to make it desirable to open negotiations on so important a subject with the Wai-wu Pu. Sir John Jordan intended, however, to pursue the matter further as soon as he considered the moment opportune.
Foreign Office, April 1, 1909.
[2236 a-
a-1]