CO129-331 - Public Offices - 1905 — Page 364

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This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]

SOUTH-WEST CHINA,

CONFIDENTIAL.

No. 1.

357

[September 27.]

SECTION 1.

(No. 217.) Sir,

The Marquess of Lansdowne to Sir E. Satow.

Foreign Office, September 27, 1905. WITH reference to your despatch No. 186 of the 24th May, 1904, I transmit to you herewith a copy of a letter from the India Office, forwarding copies of further correspondence with the Government of India respecting the relations between China and Kanjut and the frontier between Cashmere and the Chinese dominions.

You will observe that the Government of India now propose to abandon all Hunza claims to Raskam and to the Tagdumbash, provided the Chinese Government agree--

1. To sever entirely their connection with Hunza;

2. To recognize formally a frontier-line, which, starting from Feak Sheikovski, would follow the watershed of the Mustagh Range, with the exception of a projection in the vicinity of the Shingshal l'ass, where, at a point about 6 miles south-west of the Oprang Pass, the line would leave the main watershed, run due east for about 5 miles, thence south-east to the Mustagh (wrongly called Oprang) River, which it would follow to a point about 4 miles above the junction of the stream from the Shingshal Pass, and thence, ascending the nearest high spur to the west, regain the main watershed; and

3. To recognize Mr. Macartney as British Consul at Kashgar,

of

your

You will also observe that, in spite of the importance attached by the Government of India to an early settlement with China, the Secretary of State for India, in view advice to defer approaching the Chinese in the case of the Kashgar Consulate, which forms part of the settlement, is not prepared to press for immediate action in the matter pending the conclusion of the negotiations respecting the Thibet Convention.

I shall be glad to hear from you whether, in your opinion, the time has come for addressing the Chinese Government upon the whole question.

*

LANSDOWNE.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

India Office, September 6, 1905.

(2167 dd-1]