[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[46947]
CO
December 29.]
6654
SECTION 4.
REGS 17 MAR 1: No. I
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received December 29.) (No. 209.) (Telegraphic.) P.
Peking, December 29, 1910. AT an interview in London last summer I expressed my concurrence with the views which Lord Hardinge was good enough to communicate to me regarding the Pienma expedition and the unadministered region on the Burmah-Yunnan frontier. His Lordship considered, if I am not mistaken, that periodical expeditions could be made if it were found necessary to meet any attempts at encroachments by the Chinese, and saw difficulties in the way of placing the region in question under permanent control.
Since my return I have made a close study of the situation in China, and I feel bound to submit, for the consideration of His Majesty's Government and the Govern- ment of India, the following modification of my expressed opinion. The present moment appears to me to be an opportune one for the assertion of our claims to the region in dispute, as far as that may be practicable. Withdrawal now will probably render future expeditions necessary. It is not likely that they could be effected without exciting considerable popular attention, and some opposition might conceivably be offered. Contrary to all expectation the vernacular press has paid no attention to the present expedition. The strained political situation between the Senate and the Central Government here appears to be the only explanation of this unusual silence. The latter would seem to be withholding all information, in order to avoid affording a handle for criticism to the Constitutional party. As the Senate's session is to come to an end in about a fortnight, this state of things may not continue for long, and it is one which is not likely to recur.
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