2
Enclosure 2 in No. 1.
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
177
со
18595
Your Highness,
Mr. Max Müller to Wai-wu Pu.
April 26, 1910. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of the Wai-wu Pu's letter of the 23rd April with reference to the riots at Changsha.
It affords me very great pleasure to receive from your flighness and the Ministers of the Wai-wu Pu the expressions of satisfaction at the safety of the foreigners concerned, and of deep regret that the riots should have involved foreign missions and property, which are contained in this letter, and I hasten to assure your Highness that I shall not fail to communicate these expressions of satisfaction and regret to His Majesty's Government.
W. G. MAX MÜLLER.
AFFAIRS OF CHINA,
CONFIDENTIAL.
[14532]
No. 1.
Foreign Office to War Office.
RECO
Rror 18 JUN 10
[May 27.]
SECTION 1.
(Secret.) Sir,
Foreign Office, May 27, 1910. I LAID before Secretary Sir Edward Grey your letter of the 27th ultimo expressing the opinion that the time has now arrived for a reconsideration of the question of the maintenance of British troops and a legation guard in North China, and stating the reasons which have led the Army Council to conclude that from a military point of view the situation of the British garrison is far from secure.
Sir E. Grey observes that the Army Council are of opinion that the earliest convenient opportunity should be taken of withdrawing the garrison, unless there are strong political reasons to the contrary, and unless the Japanese Government are prepared to take instant steps for its support should the Chinese Government menace it or demand its withdrawal.
As the question is one of much importance, not only from a military but also from a political point of view, Sir E. Grey has availed himself of the presence of His Majesty's Minister at Peking in this country to consult him on the subject. Sir Johu Jordan expressed himself very strongly in favour of the maintenance of the garrison at its present strength on the ground of prestige. It appears that the assertion is already made in China that we have abdicated our position of supremacy in favour of the Japanese, of which the reduction of the British fleet in Chinese waters is cited as evidence, and Sir John urged that the removal of the garrison, even to Hong Kong, would be regarded both by the Chinese and British residents as a further weakening of our position and interest in that country.
Sir E. Grey, while fully admitting the cogency of the purely military arguments in favour of withdrawal contained in your letter, feels that the opinion so definitely expressed by His Majesty's Minister, whose experience in China dates from many years back, cannot be disregarded. Sir John Jordan was, however, of opinion that the garrison might possibly be reduced by about 500 men, if the reduction were carried out quietly and without ostentation.
Sir E. Grey is prepared to agree to such a reduction if desired by the Army Council.
I am, &c.
F. A. CAMPBELL
[2751 dd-1]