43
C.O. 24967
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government
[B]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[15886]
No. 1.
Foreign Office to India Office.
RECO Rre 26 JUL 09
[April 30. Į
SECTION 1.
(Secret.) Sir,
Foreign Office, April 30, 1909. I AM directed by Secretary Sir Edward Grey to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22nd instant relative to a proposal on the part of the Government of India that, in view of the policy being pursued by China in Thibet, and of an attempt made in April 1908 to assert her suzerainty over Bhutan, negotiations should be opened with the Bhutan Durbar for a secret treaty by which the external relations of that State should be placed under British control.
I am to inform you that Sir J. Jordan, His Majesty's Minister at Peking, who was consulted by telegraph in regard to the probable effect of the suggested arrangement on our relations with China, has replied that, whilst concurring in the view of the Indian Government as to the shadowy nature of the Chinese claim to suzerainty over Bhutan, he is nevertheless of opinion that a treaty of the kind contemplated is necessary to checkmate any pretensions she may entertain.
Sir Edward Grey concurs in Sir J. Jordan's view.
[2243 gg-1]
I am, &c.
F. A. CAMPBELL.
O