379
C
(This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
ept. 186
RECR [December 31 MAR 10.
AFFAIRS OF CHINA,
CONFIDENTIAL.
[47319]
No. 1.
SECTION 2,
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received December 31.)
(No. 207.) (Telegraphic.) P. MACAO.
Peking, December 31, 1909.
I have received a note from the Wai-wu Pu, dated yesterday, written in reply to my representations which I reported to you in my telegram No. 203 of the 24th instant.
In this note they deal with the proposal for arbitration at The Hague in the same sense as in their reply to the Portuguese Legation. They acknowledge that the negotiations are suffering a temporary interruption, but declare that both China and Portugal still hope to arrive at a settlement by amicable discussion amongst them- selves. The present situation does not warrant, they state, the allusions contained in my note regarding the possible Chinese aggressions at Macao, and they fail to perceive the relevance of the Anglo-Portuguese Treaty of 1661.
They ask me to convey to you the substance of the above in order that the misunderstanding may be avoided by the institution of a careful investigation.
By this last sentence I understand them to express their belief that the intentions
of the Chinese Government have been misrepresented to you.
General Machado, the Portuguese commissioner, has arrived in Peking, and will shortly have an interview with the Ministers of the Wai-wu Pu.
[2548 hh-2]