2
exhibition. This view is shared by my colleagues, who are, I understand, addressing their respective Ministers and naval authorities in a similar sense; and I would respectfully suggest that some arrangement might be come to whereby the duty of furnishing a man-of-war would be divided amongst the Powers having naval forces in these waters.
It is probable that a German and an American man-of-war will be in port at the date of the opening of the exhibition, the 5th June, and I would suggest the desirability of the British navy also being represented on that occasion.
I have, &c.
HERBERT GOFFE,
Enclosure 2 in No. 1.
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
186
CO 18595
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[16998]
No. 1.
Foreign Office to China Association.
REC
REGo 18 JUN 10,
[May 31.]
SECTION 1.
Sir.
Mr. Max Müller to Vice-Admiral Sir A. Winsloe.
Peking, May 11, 1910. I HAVE just sent to you a telegram in regard to the request of His Majesty's consul at Nanking that a foreign cruiser should be stationed there during the month of June.
A few days previous to the receipt of Mr. Goffe's despatch No. 27 of the 28th ultimo, of which a copy was forwarded to your Excellency, I had received through the Wai-wu Pu a message from the Viceroy at Nanking to the effect that the presence of foreign warships there was not necessary, and that he would be personally responsible for the protection of foreign lives and property. I accordingly telegraphed to Mr. Goffe informing him that I had received this assurance on the part of the Viceroy, and that I was opposed to interfering, except in case of actual necessity, with the movements of His Majesty's ships, and enquiring whether, under these circumstances, he still considered the presence of a British ship necessary. To this Mr. Goffe replied that he considered the presence of a cruiser necessary throughout the month of June, after which one could see how matters were shaping. He added that the prospects of the rice harvest are at present bad owing to heavy rains and flooded rivers, and that the situation would depend greatly on how the harvest turned out.
It is difficult for me at this distance to disregard the considered opinion of the consular officer on the spot, and none of my colleagues have as yet approached me in regard to the proposal that the duty of furnishing a man-of-war should be divided amongst the Powers having naval forces in Chinese waters. In view, however, of the assurance sent to me by the Viceroy, and of the statement of Mr. Goffe that a German and an American man-of-war will probably be in port at the opening of the exhibition on the 5th June, and bearing in mind the accessibility of Nauking both by railway and by river, I have confined myself to suggesting to your Excellency that the senior naval officer at Shanghae be instructed to keep in communication with his Majesty's consul at Nanking, and should be prepared to send a ship there immediately should the necessity arise.
Sir,
Foreign Office, May 31, 1910. I AM directed by Secretary Sir Edward Grey to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 11th instant, pointing out that the arguments in favour of an extension of the Shanghae International Settlement are, if anything, more cogent than they were in January 1900, when the matter was last brought to the attention of this department, and urging that joint action should be taken by His Majesty's Government and the Government of the United States with a view to obtaining the necessary extension from the Chinese Government.
I am to state, in reply, that a copy of your letter will be sent via Siberia to Mr. Max Müller, His Majesty's chargé d'affaires, who will be requested to ascertain whether the United States representative is prepared to co-operate with him in approaching the Chinese Government in the sense desired.
I am, &c.
[2751 hh-1]
F. A. CAMPBELL.
I have, &c.
W. G. MAX MÜLLER.