[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA,
CONFIDENTIAL.
[3100]
No. 1.
[January 28.]
C.O.
SECTION 1.
6412
279
(No. 514.) Sir,
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received January 28, 1907,rc 20 FEB 07
Peking, December 9, 1906. REFERRING to my telegrams No. 202 of the 31st October and No. 235 of the 2nd instant, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith a copy of the "Customs Gazette" for the September quarter, which contains the notification by the Inspector- General of Customs, publishing, by order of the Wai-wu Tu, the Circular which he addressed to the Service on the 22nd September lust.
These documents, which have been issued both in Chinese and English, have received wide publicity in the foreign and native newspapers hoth here and in Tien-tsin, and have, as His Majesty's Consul-General at the latter place reports in the despatch copy of which I have the honour to inclose herewith, been generally interpreted as a virtual withdrawal of the Edict of the 9th May, 1906.
There has not yet been time to learn the impression which they have produced at other places, but I shall not fail to let you know as soon as the reports reach me.
I have, &c. (Signed)
(No. 86.) Sir.
Inclosure in No. 1.
Consul-General Hopkins to Sir J. Jordan.
J. N. JORDAN,
Tien-tsin, December 6, 1906. WITH reference to your Confidential Circular of the 1st ultimo, I have the honour to inform you that the circular which was issued on the 22nd September by the Inspector-General of Customs to members of the Customs service, informing thern that the transfer of control from the Wai-wu Pu to the Shui-wu Ch'u (Revenue Council) entailed no change in relations or procedure, was published with attached correspondence in the three local English papers.
The general facts of the virtual withdrawal of the Edict of the 9th May, 1906, have also been published in the Chinese press.
Under these circumstances 1 venture to think that there is no need for giving the above circular and correspondence further publicity, which, moreover, could only be effected at a heavy charge to public funds.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
L. C. HOPKINS.
* Not priated.
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