This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
SOUTH-WEST CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 1.
432 [September 26.]
SECTION 4. O.
37741
RES
Memorandum for French Embassy respecting Burmah-Yunnan Boundary 35
dated September 26, 1905.
TWO Conventions, one in 1894 and one in 1897, have been concluded between the British and Chinese Governments for the settlement of the boundary question.
Since then negotiations have taken place between the two Governments on the abject, and the frontier has been delimited in accordance with the provisions of these orveutions, with the exception of (a) the Namting-Nalawt section; (b) the section orth of Manung Pun, or the N'Maikha section.
(a.) In accordance with the terme of our Agreement with China of 1897, a Joint Commission was appointed, which proceeded to trace this section. During the oceedings of this Delimitation Commission the Chinese Commissioners produced a ogus map, by which they insisted upon being guided.
After much discussion Sir G. Scott, the British Commissioner, intimated that, if he Chinese Commissioners refused to be guided by the Anglo-Chinese Convention of 897, he must complete the demarcation alone. This was done, and a description and mp, showing the exact course of the line, was communicated to the Chinese Com- missioners.
Subsequently His Majesty's Minister at Peking explained the matter fully to the huese Government, who, however, replied that, as the British and Chinese Commissioners had each marked out a different line of frontier, officers should be appointed to effect a joint demarcation, with a view to a satisfactory agreement. In eply, Sir E. Satow informed the Chinese Government that His Majesty's Government would continue to regard as the provisional boundary the line laid down by Sir G. Scott in 1900, and he intimated, at the same time, that Chinese officials and troops would not e allowed to transgress it.
(b) The N'Maikha, or northern, section, on the other hand, the demarcation of shich was left, in the Treaty of 1894, for subsequent negotiation, has not yet been properly delimited.
Article IV of the 1894 Convention states: "It is agreed that the settlement and delimitation of that portion of the frontier which lies to the north of latitude 25° 35′ horth shall be reserved for a future understanding between the High Contracting Parties when the features and conditions of the country are more exactly known."
Owing to the persistent refusal of the Chinese Government to take our proposals to their consideration, Sir E. Satow informed them in January last that we intended regard as the actual boundary, unless and until a settlement is reached, the boundary which has hitherto been treated as a provisional boundary, and that, if this frontier is not respected, and armed forces are sent across it from the Yunnan side, bere will be risk of their coming into collision with British troops.
The Chinese Government then proposed that this section of the frontier should be settled by joint delimitation as provided in Article IV of the 1897 Convention. To his we replied that, in the meantime, an exploration had been carried out by British officials, which confirmed the view that Chinese officials had never exercised authority Fest of the watershed, which has served as the provisional boundary, and that delimita- ou was impossible until there was agreement as to the general line the frontier was follow. In order, however, to secure a friendly settlement, we were willing to send ficers to accompany Representatives of the Chinese Government from the Chinese side of the watershed, and point out to them the true state of affairs in that region.
This proposal was accepted by the Chinese Government appointing the Acting otai of Tengyueh to make the joint survey in concert with Mr. Litton, the British Commissioner.
The latter's Report has been received, and we are about to make further proposals to the Chinese Government which are founded on Mr. Litton's recommendations.
September 26, 1905.
* Le. the watershed between the Irrawaddy and Salween basins.
W. T.
[2167 cc)
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