3.
•
+
1
294
have been anxious to avoid as far as possible raising
the question of Chinese neutrality on doubtful or
comparatively immaterial points, in view of the fact
that the Admiral has been using a Chinese island as
a secret base and of the paramount importance of
the free provisioning of the fleet. It has, however,
been possible to induce the Chinese Government on
more than one occasion to prevent the conveyance
to Tsingtao of field artillery and ammunition and to
intern the German river gunboats "Otter" and
"Vaterland", which I regarded as being specially im-
portant in view of their being fitted with wireless
telegraphy apparatus.
Speaking generally I do not
consider that we have any cause for complaint of
the manner in which the Chinese Government has inter-
preted its duties as a neutral.
I have, &c.,
(Signed)
J. N. Jordan.
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