1
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's G:
CO
AFFAIRS OF CHINA,
CONFIDENTIAL.
242
4810
RECR
Rear 18 FEB 10
[February 2.]
SECTION 1.
[3598]
(No. 19.)
No. 1.
Sir Edward Grey to Sir J. Jordan.
(Telegraphic.) P.
Foreign Office, February 2, 1910. CUSTOMS succession. Please see my telegram No. 188 of the 22nd November of last year.
We think the moment has now arrived for demanding from the Chinese Government the fulfilment of their engagements of the 19th February, 1908. Sir R. Hart has been very ill indeed; tells us that it is doubtful whether he will ever be able to start for the Far East, and we would deprecate any further delay in the settlement of the succession question, which would only complicate the final solution,
If you agree you should communicate with the Wai-wu Pu in this sense, and tell them that, in these circumstances, His Majesty's Government feel they must demand the fulfilment of the pledge given on the 19th February, 1908, by the Chinese Government, to the effect that they would appoint a suitable successor other than Sir R. Bredon.
(Private.)
Sir R. Hart's return is quite out of the question--he has had a stroke.
[2633 -1]