}
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
2
prejudice to any agreement that may be arrived at us the result of diplomatic action.
In his note of the 10th June last Prince Ching urges that officers should be appointed to hold a joint delimitation of the disputed frontier.
Apart from the fact that nothing has occurred, to Lord Morley's knowledge, to justify Hi Majesty's Government in abandoning the views they have always held regarding the frontier, I am to observe that delimitation presupposes a basis of agreement as to thq frontier to be delimited. But, in the present case, as Sir E. Grey is aware, no such basis exists. The proceedings of the joint commission of 1903 revealed an irreconcil- able difference between the claims of the two Powers, and the Chinese Governments showed their opinion of the compromise suggested by their commissioner by removing him from his post. In such circumstances delimitation is out of the question; and if any further communication is thought necessary at present, Lord Morley would suggest that Mr. Max Müller might be instructed to inform the Wai-wu Pu accordingly. On the other hand, there might be no objection to the demarcation of the watershed frontier after the expedition, if the Chinese then show themselves disposed to accept it. But that question can be left until it arises.
As it is necessary to begin preparations without undue delay, Lord Morley will be glad to receive Sir E. Grey's views on these proposals at an early date.
I am, &c.
R. RITCHIE.
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL,
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со
24833
[July 21.]
SECTION 1,
12 400 10
No. 1.
Board of Trade to Foreign Office.--(Received July 21.)
Sir,
Board of Trude, July 20, 1910. I AM directed by the Board of Trade to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 7th July, transmitting the draft of a note which the foreign representatives at Peking propose to address to the Wai-wn Pu protesting against the levying of octroi by the Chinese authorities on foreign merchandise entering Peking.
In reply, I am to state that the Board concur in Sir E. Grey's proposal to approve the terms of the draft note.
I am,
&c.
GEO. J. STANLEY.
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