[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[3227]
398
[January 27.]
7234
SECTION 3.
6 MAR
No. 1.
Sir,
India Office to Foreign Office.-(Received January 27.)
WITH reference to correspondence
India Office, January 27, 1911. ending with your letter, dated the 25th January, 1911, as to the undemarcated section of the Burmah-China frontier north of Manang Pum, I ain directed by the Earl of Crewe to enclose copy of telegraphic correspondence with the Government of India on the subject.
Lord Crewe would suggest, for the consideration of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, that the reply to the Chinese Government's representations, as reported in Sir J. Jordan's telegrams Nos. 11 and 19, dated the 15th and 25th January, 1911, should be in the terms proposed in his Lordship's telegram to the Government of India, dated the 16th January, 1911, subject to the modification suggested in the Viceroy's telegram of the 25th instant, viz., the substitution of the words "claims to dues from particular villages" for the words "claims to particular villages."
Should Sir E. Grey concur in this view, His Majesty's Minister at Peking might be instructed to address the Chinese Government accordingly.
Lord Crewe agrees in the view expressed in the Viceroy's telegram of the 26th instant, but presumably the result of Sir J. Jordan's communication to the Chinese Government will be awaited before the question of opening negotiations with a view to a definite settlement of the frontier is considered.
Enclosure 1 in No. 1.
I have, &c.
R. RITCHIE.
The Government of India to the Earl of Crewe.
(Telegraphic.) P.
January 25, 1911. PIEN-MA expedition. See your telegram dated the 16th instant. Following reply received from Burmah Government, whom we consulted:--- "Proposed answer to Chinese Government is generally suitable in lieutenant- governor's opinion, but his Honour would propose as a modification of the last clause the substitution for the words 'claims to particular villages' of the words 'claims to dues from particular villages. The report by Mr. Litton in 1905 shows that the utmost that could be established was that neighbouring Chinese chiefs levied dues from certain villages; no villages west of the watershed have been effectively administered by the Chinese Government. It is very undesirable, in lieutenant- governor's opinion, that any discussion regarding territorial claims to these villages should be permitted. It would be a departure from statement made in 1906 to the Chinese Government and would enormously increase our difficulties in administering the country in question if Chinese rights were admitted in any villages west of watershed. We will prepare, as directed, a reasoned statement of objections to the frontier line which Shih proposed in 1905. Before preparing statement, lieutenant- governor would prefer that full report by Hertz on villages between Ngawehang River and watershed should be awaited. Owing to difficulty of communication, we have not yet received any detailed account from Hertz; he is now travelling through villages near Hpimaw. The following, briefly stated, are certain main objections to the line prepared by Shih which were given in Litton's report of 1905, paragraphs 7 and 8:-
"1. Apart from claim to petty dues from a few villages, no claim to territory west of watershed has yet, been established by Chinese Government;
"2. Country west of watershed is not, and cannot be, effectively controlled and administered by Chinese;
"3. A natural geographical boundary is afforded by the watershed;
[1850 dd-3]