[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.j
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[39956]
No. 1.
$1
69 23 NOV 09
[November 4.]
SEOTION 1.
91
Dear Sir Robert Hart,
Sir Edward Grey to Sir R. Hart.
Foreign Office, November 4, 1909. I PROMISED to let you know if any new development occurred in the matter of the succession to your post as inspector-general of the Chinese Maritime Customs.
Your letter of the 25th ultimo appears to me to alter the situation, as I regret to see that you contemplate the possibility of being unable to return to China even in March next.
I sent to you on the 21st June last a copy of a memorandum, dated the 19th February, 1908, in which the Chinese Government stated that they had no intention of appointing Sir R. Bredon to the substantive post of inspector-general or of allowing him to act as inspector-general for a long period, and that if you did not return to China at the expiry of your leave of one year they would of course appoint a suitable person, other than Sir R. Bredon, to succeed you.
His Majesty's Government feel that they can now no longer refrain from demanding the fulfilment of this pledge, and I now propose to send instructions in this sense to our Minister at Peking.
I should be glad to see you and talk the matter over if you desire it, but as I am to be away from London for some time I send you the information by letter.
[2495 d-1]
I am, &c.
E. GREY.