[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
2
Enclosure in No. 1.
Wai-wu Pu to Sir J. Jordan.
Sir,
Peking, May 18, 1911. A DAY or two ago in an interview at our board your Excellency referred to the question whether Messrs. Butterfield and Swire's lighters of a foreign type towed by their steamers should pay tonnage dues or port dues.
Now we fully realise the difficulties your Excellency has experienced with regard to this case, and we were quite willing to discuss the matter in a friendly way with a view to meeting your wishes. We therefore verbally consented to act in the manner requested, and we have now telegraphed to the Kiukiang Taotai that he should allow the lighters in question to pay tonnage dues to the Maritime Customs.
We have the honour to address this letter for your Excellency's information.
We have, &c.
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
C 23539
[June 8.]
CONFIDENTIAL.
RECP RESE18 JUI I
SECTION 1.
[22210]
No. 1.
India Office to Foreign Office.-(Received June 8.)
Sir,
India Office, June 7, 1911. WITH reference to your letter dated the 31st May, 1911, as to the violation of the Burmah frontier by Chinese tribesmen from Chefang, I am directed to inform you that the Secretary of State for India concurs in the proposal of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to approve the action taken by His Majesty's Minister at Peking, and to instruct him to press for the dismissal of Keng Pao-kuei, Taotai of Tengyueh, should a suitable opportunity present itself.
As regards the terms of the proposed instructions to His Majesty's Minister, Lord Crewe understands that the discretion to be given to Sir J. Jordan has reference merely to the choice of a suitable moment for pressing Kong's dismissal on the Chinese Government, and that it is not intended to leave it to his Excellency to decide whether or not to raise the question at all.
Recent reports from His Majesty's consul at Tengyueh make it clear, in his Lordship's opinion, that there is little hope of improvement in the unsatisfactory conditions now prevalent on the frontier so long as Tuotai Keng retains his present post.
[2062 -1]
I am, &c.
R. RITCHIE.
84