!
i
Copy.
No. 339.
(19333)
143
.6477
REC
REG 5 FEB17
His Britannic Majesty's Legation,
Peking,
16th. December 1916.
Sir,
His Majesty's Ambassador at Tokio has been
good enough to forward to me copy of his despatch
No. 611 of the 24th. ultimo reporting the contents
of an article in the "Chuwo" of the 22nd. ultimo, regarding German activities in China.
That the German commercial houses are ener-
getically preparing for the day when they can
resume their trade, which is now in a state of sus-
pended animation, is an undoubted fatt and members
of German firms are taking advantage of their
enforced leisure to visit the interior and make
arrangements for the future development of their
business. On the other hand the only report which
I have recently received from His Majesty's Consuls
indicative of any activity in the nature of a
definite project to stir up trouble in British
territory is a telegram from His Majesty's Consul
at Ichang stating that a party of Chinese has
passed through that port with the alleged purpose
of travelling to the Burma frontier via Tengyueh
and preparing the ground for frontier disorders.
The report is under investigation and I will revert
to the matter should I obtain any further information.
Speaking
The Right Honourable,
A.J. Balfour M.P.
Foreign Office.