?
29th (the 30th April) they sent a messenger with a map of the frontier and a despatch. To this Chen Taotai replied, pointing out objections, and sending the British officers up showing the frontier line traced in accordance with previous proposals for a compromise. The British officers returned on the 4th of the 4th moon (the 2nd May), from Pang-sang to Burmah, and the Taotai more than once left the border, and submitted (to the Viceroy) the Chinese and English maps showing the frontier, and asked for instructions.
The Board have made a close examination of the facts, and find that there were differences of opinion at the time between the Delimitation Commissioners on both sides. The maps and Conventions only lay down a broad outline. The latitudes and longitudes are confused, and the mountains and rivers curve and wind, so that, in order to determine what territory should be handed over to each country to govern, a joint comparison and investigation is needed, for the avoidance of doubts and discussions. In the present case, the British and Chinese officials have each marked out a different line of frontier, and it would seem inadvisable to take either as authoritative. In view of the long-standing cordial relations between China and England, it is to be hoped that there will be mutual concessions, and that a line will be fixed by a compromise, so as to avoid future disputes.
Having received the note under acknowledgment, the Board will communicate it to the Viceroy and Governor of Yunnan for their consideration and action, and it becomes their duty to request your Excellency to transmit the present reply to His Majesty's Government, and to ask that officers may be appointed to effect a joint demarcation, with a view to a satisfactory agreement.
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
SOUTH-WEST CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 1.
527
[September 12.]
SECTION 1.
Sir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.—(Received September 12.)
(No. 256.) My Lord,
Peking, July 20, 1904. I HAVE the honour to transmit to your Lordship herewith copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Consul-General at Yunnan-fu, inclosing a report by Mr. Litton on the present state of the road under construction, from the Kulikba River on the Burmah frontier to Mausien. Seventeen miles of the road have now been completed.
I have, &c.
ERNEST SATOW.
(Signed)
(No. 16.) Sir,
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Consul-General Wilkinson to Sir E. Satow.
Yunnan-fu, June 1, 1904. I HAVE the honour to forward a despatch to your address from Mr. Litton, reporting the completion, with the exception of a necessary iron bridge, of 17 miles of mule road from the Burmah frontier stream Kulikha to the hamlet of Man-yim, on the opposite side to Manwyne of the Taiping River.
I reported to you in January last by telegraph the commencement of this work, but I am still awaiting the receipt of printed copies of my correspondence with the Burmah Government before furnishing you with details of the Agreement which, in conjunction with Mr. Litton, I negotiated at Teng-yueh last December.
I have reason to believe that the question of a light railway to Teng-yueh is at the present time engaging the attention of the India Office and of the Indian Government. Should the decision be reached to construct such railway, or to continue the new road, it is gratifying to learn that there is every prospect, thanks to the tact shown by Messrs. Litton and Mukerjee, of the work being carried through without friction, or the delays due to an inadequate supply of labour.
I have, &c. (Signed)
W. H. WILKINSON,
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Sir,
Acting-Consul Litton to Sir E. Satow.
Teng-yueh, May 2, 1904. THE commencement of work on the mule road in Chinese territory, from the frontier at Kulikha River (52 miles by cart and mule road from Bhamo) up the valley of the Taiping, was reported to you by Mr. Wilkinson in the middle of January. Work for the season has now been finished, and 17 miles of good mule road with a ruling gradient of one in eighteen are now open to mule traffic. The bridge over the torrent of the Nam-sa, which is practically unfordable all the year round, is of a temporary character, and the work on this, the Taiping gorge, section of the future trade route cannot be called complete until an iron 60-foot span bridge is substituted, which will be done next year, at a probable cost of 10,000 rupees.
This section, with the solitary exception of the Nan-tien gorge, 5 miles long, commencing 28 miles from Teng-yueh, is the most difficult on the whole road. For 10 miles out of the 17 the new road had to be cut along and round spurs and
[2172 m-1]
?
29th (the 30th April) they sent a messenger with a map of the frontier and a despatch. To this Chen Taotai replied, pointing out objections, and sending the British officers nup showing the frontier line traced in accordance with previous proposals for a com promise. The British officers returned on the 4th of the 4th moon (the 2nd May), from Pang-sang to Burmah, and the Taotai more than once left the border, and submitted (to the Viceroy) the Chinese and English maps showing the frontier, and asked for instructions.
The Board have made a close examination of the facts, and find that there were differences of opinion at the time between the Delimitation Comunissioners on both sides. The maps and Conventions only lay down a broad outline. The latitudes and longitudes are confused, and the mountains and rivers curve and wind, so that, in order to determine what territory should be handed over to each country to govern, a joint comparison and investigation is needed, for the avoidance of doubts and discussions, ■ In the present case, the British and Chinese officials have each marked out a different line of frontier, and it would seem inadvisable to take either as authoritative. In view of the long-standing cordial relations between China and Englaud, it is to be hoped that there will be mutual concessions, and that a line will be fixed by a compromise. so as to avoid future disputes.
Having received the note under acknowledgment, the Board will communicate it to the Viceroy and Governor of Yunnan for their consideration and action, and it becomes their duty to request your Excellency to transmit the present reply to His Majesty's Government, and to ask that officers may be appointed to effect a joint demarcation, with a view to a satisfactory agreement.
This Document is the Froperty of His Britannic Majesty's Government.j
SOUTH-WEST CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 1.
527
[September 12.]
SECTION 1.
Sir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.—(Received September 12.)
(No. 256.) My Lord,
Peking, July 20, 1904. I HAVE the honour to transmit to your Lordship herewith copy of a despatch: from His Majesty's Consul-General at Yunnan-fu, inclosing a report by Mr. Litton on the present state of the road under construction, from the Kulikba River on the Burmah frontier to Mausien. Seventeen miles of the road have now been completed.
I have, &c.
ERNEST SATOW.
(Signed)
(No. 16.) Sir,
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Consul-General Wilkinson to Sir E. Satow.
Yunnan-fu, June 1, 1904. I HAVE the honour to forward a despatch to youraddress from Mr. Litton, reporting the completion, with the exception of a necessary iron brigde, of 17 miles of mule road from the Burmah frontier stream Kulikha to the hamlet of Man-yim, on the opposite side to Manwyne of the Taiping River.
I reported to you in January last by telegraph the commencement of this work, but I am still awaiting the receipt of printed copies of my correspondence with the Burmah Government before furnishing you with details of the Agreement which, in conjunction with Mr. Litton, I negotiated at Teng-yueh last December.
I have reason to believe that the question of a light railway to Teng-yueh is at the present time engaging the attention of the India Office and of the Indian Government. Should the decision be reached to construct such railway, or to continue the new road, it is gratifying to learn that there is every prospect, thanks to the tact shown by Messrs. Litton and Mukerjee, of the work being carried through without friction, or the delays due to an inadequate supply of labour.
I have, &c. (Signed)
W. H. WILKINSON,
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Sir,
Acting-Consul Litton to Sir E. Sutow.
Teng-yueh, May 2, 1904. THE commencement of work on the mule road in Chinese territory, from the frontier at Kulikha River (52 miles by cart and mule road from Bhamo) up the valley of the Taiping, was reported to you by Mr. Wilkinson in the middle of January. Work for the season has now been finished, and 17 miles of good mule road with a ruling gradient of one in eighteen are now open to mule traffic. The bridge over the torrent of the Nam-sa, which is practically unfordable all the year round, is of a temporary character, and the work on this, the Taiping gorge, section of the future trade route cannot be called complete until an iron 60-foot span bridge is substituted, which will be done next year, at a probable cost of 10,000 rupees.
This section, with the solitary exception of the Nan-tien gorge, 5 miles long, commencing 28 miles from Teng-yuch, is the most difficult on the whole road. For 10 miles out of the 17 the new road had to be cut along and round spurs and
[2172 m-1]
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