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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
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AFFAIRS OF CHINA,
33063
[October 6.]
CONFIDENTIAL.
REC2
REG 28 OCT 10
SECTION 1,
(36222]
No. 1.
271
Mr. Maz Müller to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received October 6.)
(No. 324.) Sir,
Peking, September 20, 1910. I HAVE the bonour to enclose the copy of a despatch from Mr. Rose, acting British consul at Tengyueh, in regard to the unconciliatory attitude of the Chinese officials with whom he is brought into contact. Mr. Rose's experience of the disincli- nation of Chinese officials to reciprocate our well-meant endeavours to afford them reasonable co-operation and assistance and of their prevailing habit of opposition and obstruction is the common experience of all His Majesty's consular officers in China, not to mention His Majesty's representative at Peking. I am not of opinion that representations to the Wai-wu Pu will serve any useful purpose in this instance, and I propose to leave it to His Majesty's consul-general at Yunnan-fu to take what steps he deems best in regard to the alleged anti-British attitude of the judicial commissioner, Chin Shu-sheng. Vague personal accusations made in Poking against provincial officials have not in many cases had any practical effect, and the proposed expedition to the Burmah-Yunuan frontier in the autumn is more likely to bring about a change in the demeanour of the local officials than any number of remonstrances addressed to the Central Government.
In view of the state of affairs prevailing in the neighbourhood of the frontier, I have thought it desirable that His Majesty's consul-general at Yünnan-fu and the acting British consul at Tengyueh should be made aware of the forthcoming expedition. I have accordingly informed them by telegraph of the intention of His Majesty's Government, and have requested them to keep the information strictly confidential, explaining that it is not proposed to make any intimation to the Chinese Government on the subject until the expedition is about to start.
I have, &c.
W. G. MAX MÜLLER.
W.
[2958 ƒ-1]