CO129-330 - Public Offices - 1905 — Page 437

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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government)

SOUTH-WEST CHINA.

CONFIDENTIAL.

No. 1.

[April 22.]

SECTION 1.

(No. 76.) My Lord,

Sir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.--(Received April 22.)

Peking, March 6, 1905, WITH reference to my telegram No. 23 of the 1st February, I have the bonour to inform your Lordship that on the 28th January last I received a telegram from His Majesty's Acting Consul at Tengyueh, stating that Shih Taotai, who had been appointed to survey the Northern Burmah-Yunnan frontier in conjunction with him supposed that his instructions were to proceed to an actual delimitation.

Under these circumstances, I addressed a semi-official note to the Foreign Board, copy of which I have the honour to inclose, requesting that the Taotai's impression might be corrected, and have now received a reply, copy of which is also inclosed, in which I am informed that the Taotai had no intention of determining the frontier on the spot, but merely to join in a careful inspection of the country with a view to the preparation of a map for submission to the superior authorities.

I have, &c. (Signed)

ERNEST SATOW.

Inclosure 1 in No. 1.

Sir E. Satow to Prince Ching.

Your Highness,

Peking, January 30, 1905. Referring to your Highness' note of the 28th instant, I learn by telegram from His Majesty's Consul at Tengyuch that the Tastai has received his instructions, but is apparently under the impression that there is to be a definite delimitation of the boundary, whereas the object of the appointment of the Total and of Mr. Litton is that they should furnish reports for the information of their Governments.

I shall be glad if your Highness will telegraph to the Viceroy to explain this.

I avail, &c. (Signed) ERNEST SATOW.

(Translation.) Your Excellency,

Inclosure 2 in No. 1.

Wai-wu Pu to Sir E. Satow.

March 3, 1905.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge receipt of your Excellency's letter of the 30th January, with respect to the northern section of the Burmah--Yunnan frontier, in which you point out that the intention in now sending Mr. Litton and Shih Taotai thither is not for a delimitation of the frontier, but for the purpose of reporting severally to their respective Governments.

This Board telegraphed to the Viceroy of Yunnan that instructions should be given in this sense to the Taotai, and on the 2nd March we received a reply to the effect that Shih Taotai's original intention was to join with Mr. Litton in a careful inspection (of the country), of which a map would be prepared for the examination of the superior authorities. He had no intention of determining the frontier on the spot. He had now arranged with Mr. Litton to start from Tengyueh on the 3rd March, proceeding to Ku Yung, where they would await the arrival of the officers from Burmah, and then they would go together to the frontier. Subseqently a map of the frontier would be submitted.

I avail, &c.

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