[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
179
180215
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
2 DLC 09
[September 17.]
SECTION 1.
[34835]
No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received September 17.)
(No. 151.) (Telegraphic.) P.
MACAO.
Please see my telegram No. 150 of the 14th instant.
Peking, September 17, 1909.
I spoke to Na-t'ung yesterday, and pointed out to him that the negotiations could hardly be expected to arrive at a settlement as long as the Chinese member of the commission adhered to his unbending attitude. I said that a careful perusal of the various memoranda exchanged between the Portuguese and Chinese commissioners had convinced me that the action of the Chinese Government was not in conformity with the intention of the treaty of 1887. There was no doubt that the Portuguese had exercised rights of sovereignty over certain islands and waters round Macao prior to the date of the treaty, and it was not unnatural that the Portuguese Government were indisposed to relinquish the rights in question. Finally, I asked his Excellency to consider how regrettable it would be to let slip the opportunity which the Commis- sion afforded of settling this long-standing question.
His Excellency explained that the slow progress of the negotiations was due to the change of Viceroys at Canton. Now, however, that this had been effected, he hoped that we might expect an improvement in that respect. Concessions on each side were all that was required to bring about an agreement, and he promised to send telegraphic instructions to the Chinese commissioner to moderate his attitude.
[2418 r-1]
Page 180Page 181