the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[36996]
No. 1.
267
[November 3.]
SECTION C
45805
RECT
Me 27 NOV
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received November 3.) (No. 386 Confidential.) Sir,
Peking, September 20, 1906.
WITH reference to Mr. Carnegie's despatch No. 333, Confidential, of the 7th ultimo, I have the honour to transmit herewith the Memorandum of a conversation which Mr. Carnegie had, at my request, with Sir R. Hart this morning on the subject of the circular which he proposes to issue to the Customs Service.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
Inclosure in No. 1.
Memorandum by Mr. Carnegie.
I CALLED on Sir Robert Hart this morning and asked him if he had issued the circular containing the verbal instructions given him by the Administrators-General that he was to carry on as before the publication of the Decree of May last. Sir Robert said he had seen Tong Shao-yi, who had expressed regret at the spirit of unrest and anxiety which appeared to prevail among the members of the Customs Service, and had recommended that a circular in the above sense should be addressed to the Service, as it would have a tranquillizing effect. Mr. Tong added, however, that he and Tang Liang-hui would like to see the circular before it was issued, and Sir Robert remarked that if they changed it too much he would have nothing more to do with it.
Sir Robert then referred to the numbers of the "Times" which have just arrived, containing telegrams on Customs matters sent by Dr. Morrison last month. He said that they were most misleading, and that he did not know where Dr. Morrison had obtained his information. He was unaware of having had any slights put on him by the Shui Wu Chu, for the relations between that office and himself were natural and cordial. He thought that in some ways the institution of the new office was an advantage, as the Wai-wu Pu took little interest in the Customs, and had often refused to give instructions when applied to, preferring to leave all responsibility to the Inspector-General. Sir Robert emphatically stated that up to the present no changes in the administration of the Customs Service to which any exception could be taken had been made. It was impossible to say what the future might bring forth, but, in his opinion, if steps were taken prematurely for the purpose of checking possible future action of the Shui Wu Chu, the evils which it is to be hoped may be avoided or indefinitely retarded would be precipitated.
(Signed) L. D. CARNEGIE.
September 20, 1906.
[2226 c—6]
This Document
the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[36996]
No. 1.
267
[November 3.]
SECTION
C
45805
IRECT
Me 27 NOV
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received November 3.) (No. 386 Confidential.) Sir,
Peking, September 20, 1906. WITH reference to Mr. Carnegie's despatch No. 333, Confidential, of the 7th ultimo, I have the honour to transmit herewith the Memorandum of a conversation which Mr. Carnegie had, at my request, with Sir R. Hart this morning on the subject of the circular which he proposes to issue to the Customs Service.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
Inclosure in No. 1.
Memorandum by Mr. Carnegie.
I CALLED on Sir Robert Hart this morning and asked him if he had issued the circular containing the verbal instructions given him by the Administrators-General that he was to carry on as before the publication of the Decree of May last. Sir Robert said he had seen Tong Shoa-yi, who had expressed regret at the spirit of unrest and anxiety which appeared to prevail among the members of the Customs Service, and had recommended that a circular in the above sense should be addressed to the Service, as it would have a tranquillizing effect. Mr. Tong added, however, that he and Tich Liang would like to see the circular before it was issued, and Sir Robert remarked that if they changed it too much he would have nothing more to do with it.
Sir Robert then referred to the numbers of the "Times which have just arrived, containing telegrams on Customs matters sent by Dr. Morrison last month. He said that they were most misleading, and that he did not know where Dr. Morrison had obtained his information. He was unaware of having had any slights put on him by the Shui Wu Chu, for the relations between that office and himself were natural and cordial. He thought that in some ways the institution of the new office was an advantage, as the Wai-wu Pu took little interest in the Customs, and had often refused to give instructions when applied to, preferring to leave all responsibility to the Inspector-General. Sir Robert emphatically stated that up to the present no changes in the administration of the Customs Service to which any exception could be taken had been made. It was impossible to say what the future might bring forth, but, in his opinion, if steps were taken prematurely for the purpose of checking possible future action of the Shui Wu Chu, the evils which it is to be hoped may be avoided or indefinitely retarded would be precipitated.
(Signed)
L. D. CARNEGIE.
September 20, 1906.
[2226 c—6]
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