(This Document is the Property of mos
In any case until the wishes of the Indian Government are known it would be premature to discuss the matter, otherwise than most informally, with the Chinese authorities, either at Tengyueh or at Yunnan-fu.
As regards the rumour to which Mr. Litton refers, of the supersession of Shih Taotai, it would seem to have originated in the fact that the "titulaire" of the Grain On his arrival at Intendancy here, Tseng-hou, left Peking on the 22nd instant. Yunnan-fu he will relieve Kuan Taotai, who will then almost certainly proceed to T'engyueh to take up his post as Substantive Intendant of Western Yünnan (I-hsi Tac). All these changes must, however, take time; and it would be some four months before Kuan Tajen can receive the ls from Shib Hung-shao, long before which date the present investigations will have been brought to a conclusion.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
W. A. WILKINSON.
Acting Consul Lition to Consul-General || ilkinson.
(Telegraphic.)
T'engyueh, April 23, 1905. April 17. We are at Pienma near the left bank of the Upper Ngawchang, or Little River. On friendly terms with the Kachins, but the country is disturbed by feuds on account of the absence of settled government. After careful inquiry it appears to me that the claims of China to Hparé and Tzuchu are wholly unfounded, and positively denied by the Kachins. Tengkeng levies dues from here and six villages near, amounting to an average of 350 rupees per annum, but payment is irregular and there is no regular control.
The Taotai abandoned claims to the villages on the right bank of the Ngawchang. All their claims were based on ancient documents of Ch'ienlung's reigu, and amounted to twenty villages of 400 Kachin families, of which two-thirds, as a matter of fact, are entirely independent.
peace
Inquiry proves convincingly that the watershed [would be a highly satisfactory frontier, and to accept any other would cause Burmah heavy expenditure and great difficulties as to frontier government; also it would be detrimental to the Chinese with any authorities, who could not assume responsibility for the maintenance of prospect of success. But the Tuotai is afraid to accept responsibility for recommending abandonment of claims on account of the above-mentioned documents, but I hope to he able to induce him to submit for the consideration of the Chinese Government proposals for the extinction of claims in return for annual payment in accordance with the precedent of the Assigned Tract. If he consents, I would request His Majesty's Minister and you to press strongly for the immediate consent of the thinese authorities, making a point of the fact that Burmah will never accept a compromise on the basis of the recognition of Chinese authority beyond the watershed.
Is there any truth in the report that the new Taotai proceeds at once to T'engyach? That would be [?] trifling with us, because he would probably not accept the suggestions If it is contained in Shih's report, and would therefore demand further consideration. accurate, please make strong protest against the transfer of the Taotai until we cao arrive at a final settlement of the question.
SOUTH-WEST CHINA,
CONFIDENTIAL
No. 1.
Foreign Office to India Office.
C. O.
2325121
RECO
SEOTION
15
110
Foreign Office, June 22, 1905.
your Sir,
I AM directed by the Marquess of Lansdowne to acknowledge the receipt of letter of the 16th instant, requesting that a protest should be inade to the Chinese Government against the intended removal of Shib Taotai, who is at present engaged with Mr. Consul Litton in examining the Northern Burmah-Yünnan frontier.
In reply,
am to transmit to you, for the information of the Secretary of State for India, the accompanying copies of a telegram from His Majesty's Minister at Peking and of a despatch from His Majesty's Consul-General at Yunnan-fu on the subject, and I am to inquire whether, in view of the opinions expressed by Sir E. Satow and Mr. Wilkinson, Mr. Brodrick still considers it necessary that representations should be addressed to the Chinese Government with regard to the intended withdrawal of Shih Taotai.
I am, &c.
(Signed) F. A. CAMPBELL.
* Mr. Wilkinson, No. 9, April 30; Sir E. Satow (Telegraphic). No. 118, June 14, 1905. [2050 y-1]
हैं.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.