any
the Yunnan Government per the Consul-General, setting forth what is regarded by India to be the frontier, and requesting to be informed if the Chinese have objections to raise. This would perhaps elicit from them a statement of what they really mean to claim.
If the Government of India decides in no case to give up the west or right bank of the N'Maikha, I would suggest the establishment of a post on that river at an early date. If the Government of India decides to maintain a claim to the frontier which I have styled No. 1 then such post should be on the left or east bank.
Finally, I would venture to assert that China, or at least Yünnan, is showing no signs whatever of a genuine wish or power to reform; though now all is quiet, and seems likely to continue so for some time, it is also possible that a collapse may occur at any moment. In Yunnan the advance of the French railway, badly though that affair is being managed, may very likely lead to an acute crisis, and it is altogether to be deprecated that in such an event we should be found without even a frontier. The work of pacification and administration in Burmah has been such a splendid success that it would be a pity that any part of it should be endangered even in the remote future by an unscientific boundary. "Frontier coronat opus.'"
Inclosure 10 in No. 1.
Government of Burmah to Government of India.
(Telegraphic.)
Rangoon, July 24, 1903. REFERENCE my letter of 9th March last. Lieutenant-Governor has discussed the question with Sir Ernest Satow. They agree in suggesting that communication on the subject should be addressed simultaneously to Peking Government and Viceroy of Yunnan. This communication should make it perfectly clear that British Government intend to regard provisional boundary as actual boundary between China and Burmah, unless and until settlement is arrived at, and should warn Chinese that if this frontier is not respected and armed parties are sent across it, there will be a risk of their coming in contact with our forces. Lieutenant-Governor and Sir Ernest advise that communication should be made at Peking by British Legation and at Yünnan by Litton, and that it should clearly set out that provisional boundary is watershed between N'Maikha on one side and Shweli and Salween River on the other, and not merely watershed between N'Maikha and Salween River, as stated in Sir Ernest Satow's communication of the 18th September, 1902, to Prince Ching. If Government of India approve, is suggested that Foreign Office should be asked to instruct Peking Legation and Consul-General at Yünnan accordingly.
Inclosure 11 in No. 1.
Government of Burmah to Government of India.
Rangoon, August 10, 1903.
IN continuation of my telegram dated the 23rd July last, I am directed to report briefly the grounds on which the Lieutenant-Governor has recommended that a communication should be addressed to the Chinese Government on the subject of the provisional boundary north of Manung Pun.
2. The present position of affairs is that the British Government have declined to admit discussion of any proposals which would involve an extension of Chinese influence in the valley of the N'Maikha, and have so recently as September 1902 instructed His Britannic Majesty's Minister in Peking to insist on the acceptation of the boundary proposed by the Government of India, of which a detailed description was given by Mr. Hertz in December 1900. This boundary is the crest of the range forming the watershed between the stream flowing on the one side into the N'Maikha and on the other side into the Shweli and Salween.
3. So far, however, this boundary has not been accepted by the Chinese Government. The Chinese local authorities still claim,* though so far as our information goes without any adequate grounds, that the boundary lies to the east of several Chinese villages, and from Mr. Litton's Memorandum of the 1st February, of which a copy was submitted with my letter dated the 9th March, 1903, it appears likely that the Chinese, unless checked, may continue to make incursions to the west of the boundary, as they have occasionally done in the past, and may at a later date point to these incursions and to any temporary settlements made in the course of them as proof of a claim which at present has no substantial foundation.
* Telegram from the Foreign Department, dated June 11, 1903.
As we are not at present in a position to administer the region between the N'Maikha and the watershed which lies on our side of the boundary, and as we cannot, therefore, obtain always accurate information of what local parties of Chinese may be doing, or turn back Chinese incursions on the spot, it is desirable to reiterate as clearly as possible, both to the Government at Peking and also to the local authorities at Yunnan, that we intend the provisional boundary to be observed, and that we will not be responsible for the consequences if the boundary is violated. Plain language of this kind is likely to make the local officials exceedingly cautious, and, if it is used, the watchfulness of our Consular officers at Yunnan and Têngyüeh, through whom the communications to the local authorities will be made, and who are not likely to lose any suitable opportunity of reminding the Chinese officials of their purport, will probably suffice to keep our side of the border free from intrusions for a considerable time to come. Also by making it clear to the Chinese, as suggested in this Government's telegram, that the watershed, which we claim, is not merely the western watershed of the Salween, but also the watershed of the N'Maikha and the Shweli, we shall help to satisfy the Chinese local authorities on a point which probably is not fully understood by them at present, viz., that there is no desire on our part to claim the Chinese Settlements which are said to exist on the upper waters of the Shweli in the Mienkawang and Singan Valleys.
Inclosure 12 in No. 1.
Government of India to Lord G. Hamilton.
(Secret.)
My Lord,
Fort William, March 14, 1901.
YOUR Lordship's Secret despatch, dated the 3rd August, 1900, accepted our view that there should be no discussion with the Chinese Government of any proposals which would involve an extension of Chinese influence in the valley of the N'Maikha. We have now the honour to forward a copy of a letter from the Government of Burmah, giving cover to a Report (with map) by Mr. H. F. Hertz, C.I.E., which contains a description of the natural boundary to the north of the most northerly cairn on the demarcated portion of the Burmah-China frontier. The line indicated by Mr. Hertz may, in our opinion, be regarded as identical with that which was notified to the Tsung-li Yamên by the British Minister at Peking, on the 29th November, 1898, as being the provisional boundary. We have already recommended that the frontier on the east of the Irrawaddy, from the demarcated border northwards, should be fixed at the watershed of the streams which drain into the N'Maikha from the east.
2. We take this opportunity of inclosing a copy of a letter recently received from the British Minister at Peking, to whom we are transmitting a copy of our present despatch, with copies of the inclosed papers (and map*) as received from the Government of Burmah.
We have, &c.
(Signed)
CURZON.
E. H. H. COLLEN.
A. C. TREVOR.
C. M. RIVAZ.
T. RALEIGH.
E. F.-G. LAW.
* Not printed.
10
any
the Yunnan Government per the Consul-General, setting forth what is regarded by India to be the frontier, and requesting to be informed if the Chinese have objections to raise. This would perhaps elicit from them a statement of what they really mean to claim.
If the Government of India decides in no case to give up the west or right bank of the N'Maikha, I would suggest the establishment of a post on that river at an early date. If the Government of India decides to maintain a claim to the frontier which I have styled No. 1 then such post should be on the left or cast bank.
Finally, I would venture to assert that China, or at least Yünnan, is showing no signs whatever of a genuine wish or power to reform; though now all is quiet, and seems likely to continue so for some time, it is also possible that a collapse may occur at any moment. In Yunnan the advance of the French railway, badly though that affair is being managed, may very likely lead to an acute crisis, and it is altogether to be deprecated that in such an event we should be found without even a frontier. The work of pacification and administration in Burmah has been such a splendid success that it would be a pity that any part of it should be endangered even in the remote future by an unscientific boundary. "Frontier coronat opus.'"
Inclosure 10 in No. 1.
Government of Burmah to Government of India.
(Telegraphic.)
Rangoon, July 24, 1903. REFERENCE my letter of 9th March last. Lieutenant-Governor has discussed the question with Sir Ernest Satow. They agree in suggesting that communication on the subject should be addressed simultaneously to Peking Government and Viceroy of Yunnan. This communication should make it perfectly clear that British Government intend to regard provisional boundary as actual boundary between China and Burmah, unless and until settlement is arrived at, and should warn Chinese that if this frontier is not respected and armed parties are sent across it, there will be a risk of their coming in contact with our forces. Lieutenant-Governor and Sir Ernest advise that communi- cation should be be made at Peking by British Legation and at Yünnan by Litton, and that it should clearly set out that provisional boundary is watershed between N'Maikha on one side and Shweli and Salween River on the other, and not merely whatershed between N Maihka and Salween River, as stated in Sir Ernest Satow's communication of the 18th September, 1902, to Prince Ching. If Government of India approve, is suggested that Foreign Office should be asked to instruct Peking Legation and Consul-General at Yünnan accordingly.
Inclosure 11 in No. 1,
Government of Burmah to Government of India.
Rangoon, August 10, 1903.
it
IN continuation of my telegram dated the 23rd July last, I am directed to report briefly the grounds on which the Lieutenant-Governor has recommended that a communication should be addressed to the Chinese Government on the subject of the provisional boundary north of Manung Pun.
2. The present position of affairs is that the British Government have tleclined to admit discussion of any proposals which would involve an extension of Chinese influence in the valley of the N'Maikha, and have so recently as September 1902 instructed His Britannic Majesty's Minister in Peking to insist on the acceptation of the boundary proposed by the Government of India, of which a detailed description was given by Mr. Hertz in December 1900. This boundary is the crest of the range forming the watershed between the stream flowing on the ones ide into the N'Maikha and on the other side into the Shweli and Salween.
3. So far, however, this boundary has not been accepted by the Chinese Govern- ment. The Chinese local authorities still claim,* though so far as our information goes without any adequate grounds, that the boundary lies to the east of several Chinese
*
Telegram from the Foreign Department, dated June 11, 1903.
11
villages, and from Mr. Litton's Memorandum of the 1st February, of which a copy was submitted with my letter dated the 9th March, 1903, it appears likely that the Chinese, unless checked, may continue to make incursions to the west of the boundary, as they have occasionally done in the past, and may at a later date point to these incursions and to any temporary settlements made in the course of them as proof of a claim which at As we are not at present in a position to present has no substantial foundation. administer the region between the N'Maikha and the watershed which lies on our side of the boundary, and as we cannot, therefore, obtain always accurate information of what local parties of Chinese may be doing, or turn back Chinese incursions on the spot, it is It seems, therefore, very necessary to try and stop such incursions by other means. desirable to reiterate as clearly as possible, both to the Government at Peking and also to the local authorities at Yunnan, that we intend the provisional boundary to be observed, and that we will not be responsible for the consequences if the boundary is violated. Plain language of this kind is likely to make the local officials exceedingly cautious, and, if it is used, the watchfulness of our Consular officers at Yunnan and Têngyüeh, through whom the communications to the local authorities will be made, and who are not likely to lose any suitable opportunity of reminding the Chinese officials of their purport, will probably suffice to keep our side of the border free from intrusions for a considerable time to come. Also by making it clear to the Chinese, as suggested in this Gorernment's telegram, that the watershed, which we claim, is not merely the western watershed of the Salween, but also the watershed of the N'Maikha and the Shweli, we shall help to satisfy the Chinese local authorities on a point which probably is not fully understood by them at presént, viz., that there is no desire on our part to claim the Chinese Settlements which are said to exist on the upper waters of the Shweli in the Mienkawang and Singan Valleys.
Inclosure 12 in No. 1.
Government of India to Lord G. Hamilton.
(Secret.) My Lord,
Fort William, March 14, 1901. YOUR Lordship's Secret despatch, dated the 3rd August, 1900, accepted our view that there should be no discussion with the Chinese Government of any proposals which We would involve an extension of Chinese influence in the valley of the N'Maikha. have now the honour to forward a copy of a letter from the Government of Burmah, giving cover to a Report (with map) by Mr. H. F. Hertz, C.LE., which contains a description of the natural boundary to the north of the most northerly cairn on the demarcated portion of the Burmah-China frontier. The line indicated by Mr. Hertz may, in our opinion, be regarded as identical with that which was notified to the Tsung-li Yamên by the British Minister at Peking, on the 29th November, 1898, as being the provisional boundary. We have already recommended that the frontier on the east of the Irrawaddy, from the demarcated border northwards, should be fixed at the watershed of the streams which drain into the N'Maikha from the east.
2. We take this opportunity of inclosing a copy of a letter recently received from the British Minister at Peking, to whom we are transmitting a copy of our present despatch, with copies of the inclosed papers (and map*) as received from the Govern- ment of Burmah.
We have, &c.
(Signed)
CURZON.
E. H. H. COLLEN.
A. C. TREVOR.
C. M. RIVAZ.
T. RALEIGH. E. F.-G. LAW.
+ Not printed.
E
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