This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government}
451
2
"If the inquiry is confined to the four questions of the Memorandum (of the 11th June) then the rights and wrongs of the case will not be brought to light, public opinion will not be appeased, and disturbances will probably result, thus making a settlement harder than ever.
"The Taotai requests that His Majesty's Minister may be asked to order the inquiry to be held on the lines laid down in clause 3 of the Rules for Joint Inquiry first proposed. If prompt arrangements cannot be made regarding the procedure to be followed, the Chinese Government must decline to accept the responsibility for the delay."
The Board concurs in the justice of the Viceroy's proposed procedure, and have the honour to request your Excellency to favour them with an expression of your views.
September 2, 1907.
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Memorandum communicated by Sir J. Jordan to Wai-wu Pu.
AFTER careful consideration of the Board's Memorandum of the 2nd September respecting the proposed joint investigation into the case of rioting at Shanghae on the 18th December, 1905, and after consultation with the Judge of His Majesty's Supreme Court, who is now in Peking, Sir John Jordan has the honour to remind the Board that the first essential in such an inquiry would be to ascertain the responsibility of the Chinese authorities for the disturbances, as was stated in the Memoranda of the 8th March and the 11th June. If the ex-Taotai Yuan and others are merely to be represented by counsel and are not to appear in person, the inquiry becomes valueless.
In order that it should be effective, it is absolutely necessary for the Chinese officials concerned to appear personally as witnesses and answer the questions addressed to them. Their dignity will not suffer by such procedure.
Furthermore, the Judge of His Majesty's Supreme Court can only regard the British aspect of this case, and cannot concern himself with the interests of other nationalities. The appointment of assessors is therefore entirely unnecessary.
The two points of view are thus widely different. On the one side it is desired to find out the truth, and on the other to preserve the dignity of the ex-Taotai and other officials. The Viceroy at Nanking must be well aware that his proposals could not be accepted by His Majesty's Government, and their reiteration appears to show clearly that he shrinks from a local settlement. It rests therefore with the Chinese Government to come to a decision in this matter, and to settle it either by means of a joint investigation upon effective lines, as proposed in the Memoranda of the 8th March and the 11th June, or by ordering the payment of compensation and the punishment of the guilty without further delay.
Peking, September 17, 1907.
[B]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[36190]
No. 1.
[November 2.]
SECTION 2.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received November 2.)
(No. 448.) Sir,
FURTHER changes of far-reaching importance have been made during the past
Peking, September 18, 1907. fortnight in the personnel of the Central Government by the transfer of Yuan Shih K'ai from the Viceroyalty of Chihli to the post of Minister of the Board of Foreign Affairs, with a seat on the Grand Council, and by the similar transfer of Chang Chih Tung from the Viceroyalty at Wuchang to the position of a Grand Councillor.
Reports had been prevalent in July and August that these two Viceroys were to be summoned to Peking for the purpose of taking part in important deliberations respecting constitutional reform and the nomination of an Heir Apparent. It was also rumoured that Yuan Shih K'ai would be kept in Peking as a Minister of the Army Board, with a seat on the Grand Council, but it was not anticipated that Chang Chih Tung, at his advanced age, would undertake metropolitan duties.
The Viceroy Yuan was the first to arrive, and proceeded at once to the Summer Palace, where he was received in private audience several times.
On the 4th September the appointments were gazetted. That of Yuan Shil K'ai to the Wai-wu Pu came as a complete surprise to all. To make room for him, the Minister Li Hai Huan, whose appointment only dated from June last, as reported in my despatch No. 301, was transferred to the Revenue Council, the Department- which controls the Imperial Maritime Customs; while the Viceroy's place at Tien-tsin was filled on the following day by the appointment of Yang Shih Hsiang, Governor of Shantung, to be Acting Viceroy of Chihli.
On the same day (the 5th September) Chao Erh Hsun, recently Tartar General at Mukden, and subsequently Viceroy desiguate of Szechuan, was appointed to the substantive post of Viceroy at Wuchang, in place of Chang Chih Tung.
A few days later another change was made in the Wai-wu Pu. By a Decree of the 9th September, Wang Ta Hsieh, who was the last Minister to England, and who took up his post as Vice-President of the Wai-wu Pa in June last, was commanded to proceed to England on a special mission to study the principles of constitutional government. This appointment was notified to me on the 12th September in the note, translation of which I have the honour to inclose.
His place in the Wai-wu Pu was filled on the 10th September by the appointment of Liang Tun Yon, Minister designate to America, to be Acting Vice-President.
On the 14th September I received visits from Yuan Shih K'ai and Liang Tun Yen, and on the 17th transacted business with them for the first time at the Wai-wu Pu. On both occasions the ex-Viceroy gave me to understand that I could consider Mr. Liang as his right-hand man, and he expressed his strong desire at the Wai-wn Pu to bring all outstanding matters to a speedy and satisfactory conclusion, so that we could make a fresh start in the relations of this Legation and the Board.
The bewildering changes which have taken place in the official world during the past four months, besides showing the weakness which prevails in the Government of the Empire, preclude also the possibility of forecasting their result. Yet the factors of the situation are tolerably clear. In the eyes of competent observers Yuan Shih K'ai represents reform and progress, while Chang Chih Tung is now the leader of the Conservative party, in the ranks of which the Manchu element will be found. It appears impossible that both will long possess the confidence of the Throne, and an arduous task confronts Yuan Shih K'ai in preserving his position against the intrigues for which the Palace circle is notorious.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
J. N. JORDAN.
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