2
the highest and driest road available. The prefect of Yungchang has kept me very busy up to the last moment with ingenious arguments on frontier affairs, but it is useless for me to continue the discussion until I hear what view Sir Herbert takes of these interviews. The Chinese evidently intend to make another attempt to whittle away our frontier line, and they are proceeding on characteristic lines, whilst in the present state of affairs the question will become increasingly difficult every year. The Taotai casually remarked to me a few days ago that we probably considered the encroachment of a few feet here and there a very trifling matter, seeing that we had not hesitated to steal from China the whole of Burmah, a prevailing superstition in Yünnan. I tried to correct his history without effect, and have had to tell both him and the prefect that they are making serious charges, which they will probably be called upon to answer.
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[19942]
No. 1.
Foreign Office to India Office.
C
280
20141
Rec 1 JUL 10.
[June 10.]
SECTION 1.
(Telegraphic.) P.
Enclosure 4 in No. 1.
Government of India to Viscount Morley.
May 29, 1910. REFERENCE is invited to telegram dated the 21st instant from Minister, Peking, regarding Pienma raid. Necessity for action recommended in my telegram dated the 2nd May, is accentuated by attitude of Wai-wu Pu. Preparations for tour to bring tract in which Pienma is situated under British administration will occupy considerable time, and very early orders are therefore solicited.
Sir,
WITH reference to the letter from this department of the 1st instant and to
Foreign Office, June 10, 1910. previous correspondence, I am directed by Secretary Sir Edward Grey to transmit to you, to be laid before Viscount Morley, the accompanying despatch (in original) from the acting British consul at Tengyueh respecting his recent journey to Pienma for purposes of enquiry into the armed raid by the Chinese Sawbwa of Tengkeng, on the Upper Salwen, into the unadministered territory on the N'Maikha section of the Burmah frontier.*
Mr. Rose's expedition appears to remove all doubt as to the reality of the raid by the Chief of Tengkeng at the instigation of the Chinese authorities, and although these latter have so far failed to exercise any sort of administrative control over the district, they are evidently determined, if possible, to occupy the area in question. Proof of their intentions is furnished by the visits of deputies of the Yungchang Prefect in 1908, and again this spring; by the proclamation regarding the establishment of schools; by the proposal to appoint headmen; and by other instances of activity quoted by Mr. Rose.
In the circumstances, Sir E. Grey thinks the moment has arrived for having recourse to the diplomatic action at Peking, suggested in your letter of the 11th ultimo, and, subject to Lord Morley's concurrence, he proposes to consult Mr. Max Müller, who will by this time be in possession of Mr. Rose's report, as to the advisability of making immediate representations to the Wai-wu Pu, urging the withdrawal of all Chinese officials and troops to the east side of the watershed."
It is, however, quite likely that such representations will prove ineffectual, and Sir E. Grey further proposes, if Lord Morley agrees, to authorise Mr. Max Müller to warn the Wai-wu Pu that it may be found necessary at no distant date to dispatch an expedition to the frontier (on the lines recommended by the Government of Burmah), should he consider such an intimation as likely to be effectual.
It is requested that Mr. Rose's report may be returned to this department when read,
I am, &c.
F. A. CAMPBELL.
Tengyueb, No. 7, April 30, 1910.
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