2
"6. The Russian Government has the right to be guided by the enactments of article 13 of the treaty, both as regards those points at which consulates are to be established and as regards Kalgan.
"The Chinese Government has never expressed itself as opposed to the privileges granted to Russia by treaty enactments and set forth in the above-quoted six points. Ön all occasions when the local Chinese authorities have been unable to agree with the Russian representatives the Ministry under my charge has always given instruc- tions for an equitable course of action, and has never permitted itself to ignore treaty stipulations. If, owing to the inconsistency of the reports of local agents, mutual recriminations have taken place, such belong to the number of usual phenomena in international practice and cannot be interpreted as being contrary to the spirit of the treaty. Questions of such a nature can be disposed of by means of sincere and mutual discussion and duly settled in a spirit of fairness. I am entirely at a loss to under- stand your references alleging a disinclination on the part of the Chinese Government to maintain good neighbourly relations based on treaties with Russia. The statement that Russia reserves to herself the right to take measures for the attainment of her rights is far from being in accord with the idea of friendship between the two Powers, and it is extremely grievous to me that the Russian Government should have so very unexpectedly adopted such a point of view.
"In bringing the above to the knowledge of your Excellency, I deem it my duty to beg earnestly that the Russian Government be assured that the Government of China has invariably upheld the principle of treaty enactments, and expresses its readiness to decide all questions in full accordance with treaties and in a pacific spirit in order to preserve mutual advantages, and to maintain the long existing friendly relations between the two Powers."
I have, &c.
GEORGE W. BUCHANAN.
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.] 506
[B]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[7121]
Sir,
No. 1.
C 6654
[March 2.]
ref 17 MAR
SECTION 1.
Sir Edward Grey to Mr. Phillips.
Foreign Office, March 2, 1911. WITH reference to the conversation which you had with Sir F. Campbell on the 28th ultimo, on the subject of the China currency loan, I have much pleasure in informing you that His Majesty's Government are prepared to support a proposal that the Chinese Government should be urged to appoint an adviser from one of the non- interested Powers for the purpose of supervising the expenditure of the loan funds, provided that the other participating Powers also concur.
I have so informed both His Majesty's Ambassador at Paris and His Majesty's Minister at Peking, and have requested the former to communicate this information to the French Government.
I have, &c.
E. GREY.
[1918 6-1]