[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
2
"4. Continued risk of disputes between villages on both sides of frontier would be involved, and heavy expense both to Chinese and British Governments in establishment of frontier posts would be necessitated by adoption of line proposed by Shih along the Ngawchang River."
Views of Burmah Government have our concurrence. We will furnish you, on receipt from that Government, with statement of objections.
(Repeated to Peking.)
Enclosure 2 in No. 1.
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
(4057)
(No. 33.) Sir,
7234
ど
No. 1.
Sir Edward Grey to Sir J. Jordan,
399
January 30.]
SECTION 3.
(Telegraphic.)
P.
The Government of India to the Earl of Crewe.
January 26, 1911. SEE telegram No. 19 from His Majesty's Minister at Peking regarding Pien-ma expedition.
As soon as the Chinese have moderated their pretensions, it is desirable that the opportunity for arriving at a definite settlement of the frontier should be seized. Maintenance of our present position would be very difficult for us in the event of Chinese appearing on the scene with a force of modern armed troops, and serious consequences would probably result if we had to retreat.
(Repeated to His Majesty's Minister, Peking.)
Foreign Office, January 30, 1911. I GAVE the Chinese Minister to-day the accompanying memorandum as to the the Pien-ma expedition.*
He handed me the enclosed translation of a telegram which he had received from the Wai-wu Pu, and he pressed me for the withdrawal of the force.
I replied that we could not cease to administer the country, but the memorandum which I had given him contained full information, and would show him that we were prepared to discuss the question of dues. There never had been any Chinese administration of the country, but during the last year or two some forces from the Chinese side had raided the territory.
The Chinese Minister said that these could not have been Government forces, because China had plenty to do in looking after less remote territory. He did not dispute the fact that China had never administered the country, but he urged that China regarded the river, and not the watershed, as her boundary.
(Translation.)
(Telegraphic.)
I am, &c.
E. GREY.
Enclosure in No. 1.
Wai-wu Pu to Mr. Lew Yuk-Lin.
Peking, January 28, 1911.
YOUR telegram of yesterday received. We have repeatedly received telegrams from the Viceroy of Yunnan, stating that it is quite certain that 2,000 British soldiers, with more than 2,000 horses and a train of engineers, baggage, and ammunition, have arrived at Pien-ma. The important question at present is to have these troops withdrawn.
This Board has communicated with the British Minister in Peking, but as he replies that the matter must be referred to his Government, much delay will be caused.
You will again consult with the Foreign Office, asking them, in the first place, to recall the troops by telegram, and ascertain if it is their real intention to do so.
With regard to the boundary question, it does not matter whether the negotiation takes place in Peking or in London.
[1850 99---
g--3]
* Memorandum,