This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.}
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[19942]
No. 1.
Foreign Office to India Office.
(June 10.]
SECTION 1.
Sir,
Foreign Office, June 10, 1910. WITH reference to the letter from this department of the 1st instant and to 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 Tengyuch 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-wa 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.
* Tengyueh, No. 7, April 30, 1910.
I am, &c.
F. A. CAMPBELL.
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