CO882-6 — Page 106

WEI HAI WEI.

CORRESPONDENCE

BELATING TO THI

ADMINISTRATION OF WEI HAI WEI.

No 1.

MR. BALFOUR to SIB F. LASCELLES (Ambassador at Berlin).

TELEGRAM. [Answered by No. 2.]

Foreign Office, April 2, 1898.

Monday's papers will probably contain statement that we have asked for lease of Wei-hai Wei; in any case, the statement must be made by me on Tuesday in the House of Commons.

You should inform the German Government, pointing out to them that the action of Russia forces this step on us. Its sole object is to maintain the balance of power in the Gulf of Pechili, which is menaced by Russia's occupation of Port Arthur.

We do not anticipate that this policy will give any umbrage to German interests in Shantung, since it is not possible to make Wei-hai Wei a commercial port, and it would never be worth while to connect it with the peninsula by railway. If desired, a formal undertaking on this point would be given. Of course, we could not occupy till the Japanese have left the port.

No. 2.

SIB F. LASCELLES to the MARQUESS Of SalisburY.

(Received April 4.)

TELEGRAM.

[Answered by No. 3.]

Berlin, April 4, 1898.

I communicated this morning to Baron von Richthofen the substance of your telegram of the 2nd instant.” This afternoon I had a long conversation with Herr von Bülow. His Excellency said that he sees that there is no desire on the part of Her Majesty's Govern- ment to injure German interests in Shantung, but that he would like to receive a declaration with regard to German interests and the non-construction of railways in the sense indicated in Your Lordship's above telegram, in order to prevent an unfavourable impression in the country.

His Excellency suggests a declaration to the following effect: that England formally declares to Germany that she has no intention, in establishing herself at Wei-hai Wei, of creating difficulties for Germany in the Province of Shantung or of injuring or contesting her rights there, and more especially that in that province she will not establish railway communication.

1965

• No. 1.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

ILLIC.O. 882

6 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO