[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
18007 RECE REGO 16 JUN 11
&
[May 26.]
CONFIDENTIAL
SECTION 3.
[20181]
(No. 201.) Sir,
No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received May 26.)
Peking, May 8, 1911. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No 108 of the 6th ultimo, in which you express the wish that the cases of Wu-Chia Yuan and Isu-lin Ilsiang should be included, together with that of Li San-kuei, in any negotiations for a general settlement of the Burmah-Yunnan frontier question.
As will have been seen from the enclosure in my despatch No. 136 of the 30th March, I had already mentioned the cases of the four other men, including the two named above, who were arrested with Li San-kuei. Although the general negotiations are making no progress, I consider that the manner in which these men have been treated and the urgency of the matter justily us in pressing their ease on the attention of the Chinese Government independently of the frontier question. I have therefore addressed a further note to the Wai-wu Pu on their behalf, copy of which I have the honour to enclose. I am still without any reply from the Chinese Goverment on the subject.
I have, &c.
J. N. JORDAN.
Enclosure in No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Prince Ching.
Your Highness,
Peking, April 26, 1911. NEARLY a month has elapsed since I had the honour to call your Highness's attention to the case of Li San-kuci (Li San-pao) and the four other men who were thrown into prison a year ago by the Yunnan authorities for no other reason than because they had accompanied His Majesty's consul at Tengyueh in his journey to Pienma last spring, and although I have since on several occasions made verbal representations to the board on the subject, I am still without any information as to what action has been taken in the matter.
The last information I have received from IIis Majesty's consul in Yunnan goes to show that the unfortunate man is still imprisoned in the gaol of the district magistrate at Yung Chang Fu.
Tuotai Keng, of whose unfriendly attitude at Tengyuch I have recently had reason to complain, was Prefect of Yung Chang Fu at the time, and, if my information is correct, it was he who recommended the imprisonment of Li San-pao and the other men.
I enclose for your Highness's perusal copy of a note which is Majesty's consul at Tengyuel addressed to the taotai over six months ago, but to which no attention has been paid.
I am reluctant to believe that action of which this case affords an example can be regarded by the Chinese Government as conducing to the maintenance of the friendly relations which should exist between officials of the two Powers on their respective frontiers,
I avail, &c.
J. N. JORDAN.
[2023 ce-3]
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