CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907 — Page 214

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

CHINA RAILWAYS.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[14463]

C.O.

213

19974

[May 4.]

Rece

SECTION 3.

PEG 5 JUN 07

No. 1.

Consul Wilton to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received May 4.)

(No. 4.) Sir,

Yünnan-fu, March 13, 1907. REFERRING to Mr. Wilkinson's despatch No. 3 of the 7th instant, I have the honour to inclose copy of a despatch, addressed to His Majesty's Minister at Peking, bearing on the same subject.

I have, &c. (Signed)

E. C. WILTON.

Inclosure in No. 1.

Consul Wilton to Sir J. Jordan,

(No. 5. Confidential.) Sir,

Yünnan-fu, March 12, 1907. REFERRING to Mr. Wilkinson's despatch No. 4 of the 8th instant, I have the honour to report that, in the course of conversation during a formal call on M. Arnould, the French Consul at Yunnan-fu, yesterday, M. Arnould remarked that he had heard that I had visited Dr. Barbezieux, and asked me if I had known Dr. Barbezieux previously. I explained that, although I had not been acquainted with Dr. Barbezieux, that gentleman had been courteous enough to request Mr. Wilkinson to bring me with him to a farewell dinner, given by Dr. Barbezieux to Mr. Wilkinson on the eve of his departure, which happened to coincide with the day of my arrival, the 7th March.

M. Arnould proceeded that Dr. Barbezieux was endeavouring to be made the Principal of an Institute, proposed to be established at Yunnan-fu for the purpose of training Chinese as railway engineers, and inquired whether Dr. Barbezieux had discussed the matter with me. I replied in the negative.

M. Arnould went on that he understood that Mr. Wilkinson, actuated by a spirit of friendship, intended to assist Dr. Barbezieux in this project, and he desired to inquire what action I would take vis-à-vis the Chinese authorities. I replied that the question had not been broached to me by the Chinese authorities, nor had I the intention to introduce it to their notice. M. Arnould then said that he had informed the Viceroy that Dr. Barbezieux was not a free agent, as he was, to all intents and purposes, a French official. The Viceroy, he added, would be leaving, probably in three or four months, and he did not anticipate that his Excellency would lend his countenance to the scheme.

I have the honour to state that copies of this despatch are being forwarded to the Foreign Office and to the Government of Burmah.

I have, &c.

[2481 d-3]

(Signed)

E. C. WILTON.