CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907 — Page 358

[This Document

AFFAIRS OF CHINA.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[33106]

the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Governmzi.

38147-5

[Oomber 54 OCT 07,

No. 1.

SECTION 7.

Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received October 5.)

(No. 398.) Sir,

Peking, August 20, 1907. WITH reference to the final paragraph in my despatch No. 280 of the 12th June respecting the overtures made to me by Lord Li in regard to the settlement of the British claims arising out of the Shanghae riots of December 1905, I have the honour to report that Lord Li left Peking without coming to any decision on this question.

On the 19th July His Majesty's Consul-General at Shanghae informed me by telegraph that Lord Li had approached him in the same sense, and I authorized Sir Pelham Warren to receive any proposal he might have to make, for reference

to me.

Nothing further has been heard from that quarter on this subject, but on the 13th instant I received a message from the Grand Secretary Na Tung to the effect that Prince Ch'ing had instructed him to approach me and to ask if I would under- take to inquire of the Representatives of other Powers the exact amount of their claims with a view to their general settlement, provided that the total sum did not greatly exceed 50,000 dollars. The Grand Secretary stated that the ex-Taotai Yuan was prepared to find the necessary sum, but that he would be unable to pay much more than the 50,000 dollars claimed by us. It would also have to be understood, in these circumstances, that such payment of compensation closed the case.

I have informed the Grand Secretary that I am not prepared to concern myself with the claims of other nationalities, but that as far as my information goes the only other claim for a considerable sum is that preferred locally by the German Consul- General This, I understand, is for 40,000 taels, and arises for the most part in damages sought by a German subject for injuries to his eyes.

On receiving my reply, the Grand Secretary stated that he would communicate with the friends in Peking of the ex-Taotai, and, on receiving from them an indication of the course they were prepared to pursue, would communicate further with me.

His Excellency was at the same time clearly informed that when he had a definite offer to make it would have to be referred by me to His Majesty's Government before it could be accepted.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

J. N. JORDAN.

[2692 e-

-7]