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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government!
23539
REOP REF 18 JU 11
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL,
[June 19.]
SECTION 1.
[23899]
No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received June 19.)
(No. 233.) Sir,
Peking, June 1, 1911. WITH reference to my despatch No. 191, and my telegram No. 113 of the 5th ultimo, and my telegram of the 18th ultimo, I have the honour to report that the Chinese postal service was handed over to the control of the Ministry of Communications on the 29th ultimo. The service has been working for the past fifteen years as a branch of the Imperial Maritime Customs, and there is a debt of 1,780,000 taels (237,5657.) due to that department on account of loss incurred in connection with its administra- tion. It is rumoured that there is an intention of contracting a loan with a Belgian group for repaying the above sum and for providing the necessary means for the continuance and extension of the service.
Mr. Piry, who has hitherto been postal secretary, becomes Postmaster-General, and will be under Lord Li Ching-fong, who has been appointed Director-General of Posts. The foreign personnel of the service remains as it was before the change, and the members generally appear to be satisfied with the new arrangement.
So far there is no indication of any desire to interfere with the working of the foreign post offices in China, but this question will probably be brought forward in the near future as soon as China shall have joined the Postal Union.
I have, &c.
[2062 t-1]
J. N. JORDAN.
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