[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
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8 MY !!
[February 6.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDEN FIAL.
[4466)
No. 1.
SECTION 5.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received February 6.)
(No. 29) (Telegraphic.) P.
BURMAH-YUNNAN frontier.
Peking, February 6, 1911.
On the 23rd ultimo, acting British consul at Tengyueh reported that on account of Taotai's obstructive attitude the frontier meeting had been broken off. Mr. Rose also reported that 500 new troops had quitted Tali on the 22nd January, and were travelling as fast as possible towards Tengyuch; and on the 5th instant, that this force had diverged from Yungchang, accompanied by the Prefect of that place, for Teng Keng, on the 1st February, on which date another force of 500 men had left Tali for Tengyueh. Part of the local Tengyueh troops have been moved into the Chinese Shan States.
The acting British consul at Tengyueh states that he has been requested by local authorities to reconsider frontier meeting, and gathers that these movements of troops are rather of a defensive than of an offensive character.
On the 5th instant His Majesty's consul-general at Yunnan-fu reported the departure of the 73rd Regiment of regulars with alleged destination of Tengyueh (see my immediately preceding telegram of yesterday).
It looks to me as if the Chinese Government are ordering all these movements of troops in order that their hands may be strengthened in the negotiations to follow.
[1909 ƒ-5]
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