[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
[B
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL,
(33409)
No. 1.
750
[October 1.]
SECTION 1. C
38281
RECE
17 00 06
Sir Edward Grey to Sir M. Durand.
(No. 202.) Sir,
MR. CARTER told me to-day that Mr. Reid did not desire to speak officially at present on the subject of the Chinese Customs, but the information which had reached Mr. Carter himself was to the effect that the recent change in connection with the Chinese Customs had already begun to interfere with the working of the Customs Service in such matters as the compilation of statistics, and other details; and though he was not making any official inquiry, Mr. Root would no doubt like to know what our opinion was.
I said I had regarded the matter as being, so far, a change of form only. As long as it remained that, there was no reason, and, indeed, no right, to interfere. Should it, however, become a change of substance, it would be a very serious matter. China had some special engagements towards us and other Powers in connection with the Customs, but any disturbance in the Customs themselves would affect all Powers. We should then at once consider what steps we should take, and I hoped we would find ourselves in agreement with other Powers in defending our common interests.
At present our information from the British Legation was to the effect that there had been no interference with the actual working of the Customs Service, and we were expecting to hear that the instructions to Sir Robert Hart to continue administering the Customs as before had been made public. The Chinese had promised privately that this would be done, and their reluctance to carry out their promise was a bad sign.
I might sum up our attitude by saying that, though I was not concerned about anything which had happened so far, I felt anxious about the future, and was waiting for some definite ground before taking more decided action.
[2183 a-1]
I am, &c.
(Signed)
EDWARD GREY.
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
[ B
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL,
(33409]
No. 1.
750
[October 1.]
SECTION 1. C
38281
RECE
17 00 06
Sir Edward Grey to Sir M. Durand. (No. 202.) Sir,
MR. CARTER told me to-day that Mr. Reid did not desire to speak officially at
Foreign Office, October 1, 1906. present on the subject of the Chinese Customs, but the information which had reached Mr. Carter himself was to the effect that the recent change in connection with the Chinese Customs had already begun to interfere with the working of the Customs Service in such matters as the compilation of statistics, and other details; and though he was not making any official inquiry, Mr. Root would no doubt like to know what our opinion was.
I said I had regarded the matter as being, so far, a change of form only. As long as it remained that, there was no reason, and, indeed, no right, to interfere. Should it, however, become a change of substance, it would be a very serious matter. China had some special engagements towards us and other Powers in connection with the Customs, but any disturbance in the Customs themselves would affect all Powers. We should then at once consider what steps we should take, and I hoped we would find ourselves in agreement with other Powers in defending our common interests.
At present our information from the British Legation was to the effect that there had been no interference with the actual working of the Customs Service, and we were expecting to hear that the instructions to Sir Robert Hart to continue administering the Customs as before had been made public. The Chinese had promised privately that this would be done, and their reluctance to carry out their promise was a bad sign.
I might sum up our attitude by saying that, though I was not concerned about anything which had happened so far, I felt anxious about the future, and was waiting for some definite ground before taking more decided action.
[2183 a-1]
I am, &c.
(Signed)
EDWARD GREY.
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