[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
{
[7635]
No. 1.
Sir Edward Grey to Sir J. Jordan.
[February 22.]
SECTION 3,
(No. 69.) Sir,
Foreign Office, February 22, 1911. THE Chinese Minister having asked to see me, I informed him to-day of the substance of your telegram No. 53 of the 18th instant, with reference to the Sienma expedition.
He said that his Government thought that the troops should be withdrawn.
I repeated what you had stated on this point to Natung, and said that it must be remembered that our troops had not gone into any district actually administered by the Chinese. It was not as if our troops had gone to a position where they displaced existing Chinese authority.
The Chinese Minister told me that his Government hoped we would not cause them difficulties while they were so much embarrassed by other troubles, especially by the plague.
I replied that we were aware of the anxiety which the plague must be causing them, and we had no desire to embarrass them. On the contrary, what you had stated to Natung, opened the door to a settlement by territorial adjustment, and not only by money payment. I hoped this would provide a basis for negotiations which would result in a satisfactory settlement.
[1909 y--3]
I am, &c.
E. GREY.
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