[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Governm
AFFAIRS OF CHINA,
CONFIDENTIAL.
[38891]
(No. 348.) Sir,
No. 1.
[October 21.]
SECTION 3.
Wrap 23 NOV 09)
83
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received October 21.)
Peking, September 22, 1909.
I HAVE the honour to report briefly on the course of the negotiations between Portugal and China since my despatch No. 282 of the 5th August was written.
On the 6th August a telegram was received from General Machado, in which he denied that he had made any reference either in writing or in discussion to the newly opened port of Heungchow, and a day or two later I took advantage of an interview with Liang ta-jên to correct the error into which he had fallen. At the same interview the question of the dependencies was discussed at some length, but Liang showed clearly that he shared the extreme Cantonese view of the question, and I failed to make much impression upon him. Several interviews followed, at which Liang continued to maintain the same attitude, and on the 13th September he sounded me indirectly as to the possibility of China acquiring Macao by purchase, a suggestion which did not appear to me to deserve serious consideration.
On the 16th instant I had a long and earnest conversation with the Grand Secretary, Na-t'ung, on the subject. I told his Excellency that after a careful and exhaustive study of the memoranda, which had been exchanged between the Com- missioners, I had come to the conclusion that the Chinese had no intention of approaching the question in the spirit of the treaty of 1887, and that, unless the Chinese Commissioner were instructed to modify his unbending attitude, there seemed to be no prospect of a settlement. It was, I said, utterly unreasonable to expect Portugal to abandon all claim to islands and waters over which it could be shown that she exercised unbounded rights prior to 1887, and the contention of the Chinese Commissioner that the dependencies of the treaty of 1887 were a few villages on the peninsula was almost ludicrous. It would, I added, be very unfortunate if advantage was not taken of the present opportunity to adjust this long standing dispute, and the fault would not rest with Portugal, which had sent out a Commissioner of high rank, who had, in my opinion, shown an earnest desire to come to an amicable arrangement.
The Grand Secretary replied that the change of Viceroy at Canton had delayed matters. The new Viceroy had only entered upon his duties on the 2nd September, and had scarcely had time to make himself familiar with all the details of such a complicated question. As soon as his Excellency bad mastered the subject, he felt sure that better progress would be made, and he did not despair of reaching a solution by a process of mutual concessions. He would telegraph to the Chinese Commissioner to be more accommodating in his attitude, and he hoped that the Portuguese chargé d'affaires would also give counsels of moderation to his Commissioner.
The Chinese memoranda Nos. 1 and 2, dated the 2nd August, copies of which are enclosed,* contain the Chinese reply to the Portguese memoranda, forwarded in my despatch No. 282. China, it is contended in these papers, never abandoned her sovereignty over Macao, which was merely leased to Portugal, as shown by the payment of ground rent up to the year 1849, and the so-called dependencies are merely some villages on the peninsula, over which Portugal had usurped jurisdiction prior to the treaty of 1887. The memoranda further charge Portugal with several breaches of the status quo of 1887.
The subsequent memoranda exchanged between the Commissioners, copies of which are likewise enclosed,* contribute little towards the further elucidation of the question, but I would specially draw attention to the accompanying despatch of the 10th August from General Machado, which sets forth the minimum boundary which he is prepared to accept. The map illustrating General Machado's proposals, which has been prepared in this legation, will show at a glance the wide discrepancy which exists between this minimum demand and what China is prepared to grant. As stated in my telegram No. 150 of the 14th instant, the case seems to be one eminently suited for arbitration, and as soon as it is clear that a deadlock has been reached, a request in this sense should, I think, be preferred by Portugal with the support of His Majesty's
I have, &c.
Government.
J. N. JORDAN.
se
June
• Not printed.
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