[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
C. O.
SOUTH-WEST CHINA,
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 1.
31035 [August 27]
Rece SECTION 2.6 SEP 04)
482
Sir,
India Office to Foreign Office.-(Received August 8.)
India Office, August 6, 1904,
WITH reference to Mr. Campbell's letter of the 16th May last, on the subject of the proposed boundary between Burmah and China north of latitude 25° 35', I am directed by Mr. Secretary Brodrick to request that you will lay before Lord Lansdowne the inclosed copy of a letter from the Government of India,* stating their views upon the questions raised in Prince Ching's reply to Sir E. Satow's note of the 30th January last, and inclosing reports by local officers and others who have been consulted on the question of Chinese rights in the tract between the N'Maikha and the watershed referred to in Sir E. Satow's despatch of the 5th December, 1903, No. 415, and in your letter of the 19th February, 1904.
It will be seen that the Government of India, after consideration of the letter of the Government of Burmah of the 4th June, 1904, forwarding these reports, concur in the views expressed by the Lieutenant-Governor. They agree with him as to the extreme importance to Burmah that there should be no extension of Chinese influence into the valley of the N'Maikha, and they are of opinion that His Majesty's Government should adhere absolutely to the intimation made by Sir E. Satow to the Chinese Government, that the watershed must be regarded as the actual boundary unless or until a settlement is reached. They also agree with the Lieutenant-Governor that, for the reasons given, His Majesty's Government should resist any proposal for a formal demarcation by a Boundary Commission.
The course which in these circumstances the Government of India recommend should be followed, with a view to securing a friendly settlement of the question, is stated as follows in the 4th paragraph of the letter of the Government of Burmah, viz.; "That we should acquaint the Chinese Government with the results of our local inquiries; that we should offer to send officers from the Chinese side (whence the watershed is easy of access) to point out the true position of affairs to Chinese Representatives, and to assist them in verifying our conclusions; that we should then invite them to accept the general principle that the watershed should be the boundary, and that we should couple with this invitation the offer to deal liberally with any claims to dues from petty villages on our side of the border which the local Chinese Headmen may be able to establish."
A copy of the Government of India's letter, with its inclosures, has been sent direct to His Majesty's Minister at Peking. Mr. Brodrick would suggest that Sir E. Satow might be asked for his opinion on the proposals of the Government of India, and that, if he sees no objection, he should be instructed to address the Chinese Government accordingly.
In conclusion, I am directed to draw Lord Lansdowne's attention to the statement in the 4th paragraph of the letter of the Government of Burmah that, if the present proposals fail to lead to a friendly understanding, the Lieutenant-Governor would be prepared to take immediate steps to extend British administration on the left bank of N'Maikha in such a manner as to leave no doubt as to the reality of our control over the valley.
I am, &c.
A. GODLEY.
(Signed)
* Not printed.
[2116 h-2]
!
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
C. O.
SOUTH-WEST CHINA,
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 1.
31035 [August 87
Rece
SECTION 2.6 SEP 04)
482
Sir,
India Office to Foreign Office.-(Received August 8.)
India Office, August 6, 1904,
WITH reference to Mr. Campbell's letter of the 16th May last, on the subject of the proposed boundary between Burmah and China north of latitude 25° 35', I am directed by Mr. Secretary Brodrick to request that you will lay before Lord Lansdowne the inclosed copy of a letter from the Government of India,* stating their views upon the questions raised in Prince Ching's reply to Sir E. Satow's note of the 30th January last, and inclosing reports by local officers and others who have been consulted on the question of Chinese rights in the tract between the N'Maikha and the watershed referred to in Sir E. Satow's despatch of the 5th December, 1903, No. 415, and in your letter of the 19th February, 1904.
It will be seen that the Government of India, after consideration of the letter of the Government of Burmah of the 4th June, 1904, forwarding these reports, concur in the views expressed by the Lieutenant-Governor. They agree with him as to the extreme importance to Burmah that there should be no extension of Chinese influence into the valley of the N'Maikha, and they are of opinion that His Majesty's Government should adhere absolutely to the intimation made by Sir E. Satow to the Chinese Government, that the watershed must be regarded as the actual boundary unless or until a settlement is reached. They also agree with the Lieutenant-Governor that, for the reasons given, His Majesty's Government should resist any proposal for a formal demarcation by a Boundary Commission.
The course which in these circumstances the Government of India recommend should be followed, with a view to securing a friendly settlement of the question, is stated as follows in the 4th paragraph of the letter of the Government of Burmah, viz.; "That we should acquaint the Chinese Government with the results of our local inquiries; that we should offer to send officers from the Chinese side (whence the watershed is easy of access) to point out the true position of affairs to Chinese Representatives, and to assist them in verifying our conclusions; that we should then invite them to accept the general principle that the watershed should be the boundary, and that we should couple with this invitation the offer to deal liberally with any claims to dues from petty villages on our side of the border which the local Chinese Headmen may be able to establish."
A copy of the Government of India's letter, with its inclosures, has been sent direct to His Majesty's Minister at Peking. Mr. Brodrick would suggest that Sir E. Satow might be asked for his opinion on the proposals of the Government of India, and that, if he sees no objection, he should be instructed to address the Chinese Government accordingly.
In conclusion, I am directed to draw Lord Lansdowne's attention to the statement in the 4th paragraph of the letter of the Government of Barmah that, if the present proposals fail to lead to a friendly understanding, the Lieutenant-Governor would be prepared to take immediate steps to extend British administration on the left bank of N'Maikha in such a manner as to leave no doubt as to the reality of our control over the valley.
I am, &c.
A. GODLEY.
(Signed)
• Not printed.
[2116 h-2]
*
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