273
(This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[243730]
7053
[January 3.]
REC
REA? 8 FCB 18!
SECTION 1.
No. 1.
·
Sir,
Foreign Office to Admiralty.*
Foreign Office, January 3, 1918. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to enclose herewith copy of a letter which he has addressed to the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury on the subject of the deportation of enemy subjects from China.
In anticipation of the negotiations for their deportation and interament in Australia being brought to a successful issue, Mr. Balfour desires that the question of providing the necessary transport may be taken into consideration, and he will be glad to learn the views of the Lorda Commissioners of the Admiralty on the subject.
W. LANGLEY.
I am, &e.
Enclosure in No. 1.
Sir,
Foreign Office to Treasury.
Foreign Ofice, January 3, 1918. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to bring to the notice of the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury the following proposal in regard to the deportation of enemy subjects from China, and to request their Lordships' sanction to accept, on behalf of His Majesty's Government, the financial obligations which it entails.
Since the entry of China into the war, the Allied representatives at Peking bave been impressed with the vital importance, from a political point of view, of effecting the deportation of all enemy subjects. In ordinary circumstances internment by and at the expense of the Chinese Government, or at any rate some form of police surveillance, would be the natural treatment of enemy subjects in China. There are, however, grave objections to acquiescing in this course owing to the general weakness and Ineffectiveness of Chinese control, and the consequent danger of further enemy intrigue and propaganda in the Far East. There is also the consideration that if enemy subjects are allowed to remain in China they will be in a favourable position to resume their business activities and connections immediately on the conclusion of hostilities, and a valuable opportunity of ousting enemy trade and influence in China will be lost.
The All1 representatives at Peking are therefore unanimously of opinion that 1 fest policy is deportation to Australia, the Government of which has consent to receive and intern enemy subjects from China.
the ri
His Majesty's Minister at Peking has accordingly been authorised to commence negotiations at once for securing the consent of the Chinese Government to this scheme, but it is considered that, to be successful, any representations to the Chinese Govern- ment on the subject will require to be backed by an assurance that the Chinese Government will not be called upon to bear any of the expenses either of transport or of internment. The French Government have already signified through the French Ambassador their willingness to bear their share of the cost, and it is hoped that a similar guarantee will be forthcoming from the Governments of Japan, the United States, and Italy. It is assumed that it will not be possible in the circumstances to expect the Belgian and Portuguese Governments to agree to bear their share of the expouses involved.
In the meantime, however, in order that negotiations may be commenced without delay, it is necessary for Sir John Jordan to be placed in a position to give the Chinese Government the assurance referred to on his own behalf and on that of his Allied colleagues, leaving the final allocations and distribution of the cost to be settled by negotiation between the Allied Governments.
* Also to Ministry of Shipping, mutatis mutandia.
[2767 c-1]