[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
58
со
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[29199]
No. 1.
[August 11. 20647
SECTION 1RECO
REG916 SEP 10
Mr. Max Müller to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received August 11.)
(No. 241.) Sir,
Peking, July 26, 1910. I HAVE the honour to report that His Majesty's vice-consul at Chungking informed me by telegraph on the 14th instant that he had received a letter from the Taotai, which was sent at the instance of the Viceroy, stating that, if it was necessary for His Majesty's gunboats to cruise, they were only allowed to do so below Chungking, and could not be permitted to visit the Yang-tsze ports above that place.
Mr. Langford Smith replied that His Majestp's ships were allowed to cruise both above and below Chungking by virtue of article 52 of the treaty of Tien-tsin; that these were the instructions which he had received from His Majesty's Minister; and that he was therefore unable to take any other view. On the Taotai arguing the matter, Mr. Langford Smith repeated his former reply. He further informed the senior naval officer that there was no necessity to modify the programme for the summer cruise, which was planned exclusively for visits to up-river ports.
On the 18th instant His Majesty's consul-general at Chengtu telegraphed that he had received several letters from the Viceroy, culminating in an offer to refer the question to Peking for discussion between the Wai-wu Pu and myself if Mr. Wilkinson would request His Majesty's ship "Widgeon," which, it appears, left for Suifu on the 15th July, to return to Chungking. I therefore, on the 20th July, instructed Mr. Wilkinson to act in strict accordance with the instructions contained in Sir J. Jordan's despatch No. 10 of the 30th August, 1909, a copy of which was sent to you in his despatch No. 304 of that date, and of which the terms were approved by your despatch No. 311 of the 19th October. At the same time, I requested him to approve Mr. Langford Smith's attitude.
On the 22nd instant I received a note from the Ministers of the Wai-wu Pu, in which they argue that although article 52 of the Tien-tsin Treaty permits British ships of war to visit all ports in China, places on the inland waterways are not treaty ports, and if foreign gunboats suddenly proceed thither their visit is sure to cause alarm and suspicion, and perhaps arouse a feeling of hostility among the inhabitants. Wai-wu Pu, who appear to have confused His Majesty's ship "Widgeon" with His Majesty's ship "Woodcock," conclude by requesting me to request the latter to return at once to Chungking.
The
I have addressed a note to the Wai-wu Pu in reply, informing them of the view held by His Majesty's Government that British warships have the right, in accordance with article 52 of the treaty of Tien-tsin, to visit all Chinese ports, whether opened by treaty to foreign trade or not, and that I am therefore unable to comply with their request. Copies of the correspondence with the Wai-wu Pu are transmitted herewith. It appears from a despatch which I have received from the Commander-in-chief, China Station, that the local Chinese authorities have recently made similar difficulties in regard to the cruise of His Majesty's ship " Moorhen" to the ports on the Upper West River, and have protested against her visiting Liauchow, Nanning, and Pose. I enclose copies of Vice-Admiral Sir A. Winsloe's despatch and of the reports of the commanding officer of His Majesty's ship "Moorhen," annexed thereto.
I have informed Sir Alfred Winsloe fully of the action taken by His Majesty's Legation and consular officers to assert the rights of His Majesty's ships to visit the ports of the Upper Yang-tsze.
I have, &c.
W. G. MAX MÜLLER.
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