[B]
[This Document is the Property of His Britanic Majcstro's (CoveC~ €]
14353
167
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
2 MAY T
[April 3.]
SECTION 4,
[13356]
No. 1.
Sir Edward Grey to Mr. Bryce.
(No. 154. Confidential.) Sir,
Foreign Office, April 3, 1911. THE United States Ambassador told me to-day that there was some apprehension that Russia and Japan were concerting common action in Manchuria, which would mature this year, and which would deprive China of Manchuria altogether. His Goverument had received information from their Minister at Peking that this was in the air, and he seemed to have founded his belief partly upon something which the British Minister had said to him
nie.
In reply, I said that Sir John Jordan had not sent any information of this kind to As a matter of fact, when the dispute between Russia and China was acute, Russia had prepared to move such troops as might be necessary to protect her railway in Manchuria, for at certain points the Chinese were in superior force, and might attack the railway. The Japanese had expressed the hope that no more Russian troops than were necessary for this purpose would be sent, and that they would be withdrawn as soon as the danger was past. This was what I had heard from the Russian and Japanese Governments. I explained to the United States Ambassador that I could tell him this only confidentially, and that I hoped he would take care to prevent it from leaking out. As, however, there was apprehension at Washington that the Russians and Japanese were concerting action for the annexation of Manchuria, I thought it right that Mr. Knox and the President should have this information, which pointed in the opposite direction and might allay apprehension.
The Ambassador asked me whether I had heard anything as to an intended movement of troops to Aigun.
I assured him that I had not heard of anything of the kind.
[1974 e-4]
I am, &c.
E. GREY.