[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
6.6 10637
[May 2.]
RECO
CONFIDENTIAL.
& REGE 16 JUN 11
SECTION 3.
[19455]
No. 1.
491
(No. 194.) Sir,
Sir J. Jordun to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received May 22.)
Peking, May 5, 1911. REFERRING to Mr. Max Müller's d'espatch No. 400 of the 5th November last, I have the honour to report that the arrangements for the transfer of the postal service to the board of communications seem to be approaching completion, although the acting inspector-general of customs, under whose direction the service is now conducted, has so far received no official intimation of the proposed change. The uegotiations connected with the transfer are in the hands of Sheng-kung-pao, who has seen M. Piry, the postal secretary, and intimated to him that the step is imminent. The customs post has already taken over the Government courier service, and the only remaining questions to be settled relate to the future maintenance of the service and the repay- ment of a sum of 2,500,000 taels (336,5881), which the postal service owes to the customs. The posts are now nearly self-supporting, and with proper administration should soon bring in a considerable revenue to the Government, but whether they will be equally successful when divorced from the customs is open to doubt.
M. Piry does not view the change with unmixed satisfaction, and seems anxious to obtain some guarantee from the Chinese Government for the continued maintenance
of the service under efficient foreign control. It is understood that the good offices of the French Minister have been requested in the matter.
There are about 120 foreigners representing twelve nationalities in the postal service, and the organisation is still capable of enormous development. I have, &c.
[2023 y-3]
J. N. JORDAN,