CONFIDENTIAL.
[April 15.]
SECTION 1.
23 NPR 08
367
[11447]
Sir,
No. 1.
Sir Edward Grey to Sir A. Nicolson.
(No. 102. Confidential.)
Foreign Office, April 15, 1908.
WITH reference to my despatch No. 76 of the 16th March, I transmit to your Excellency herewith a copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Minister at Peking, on the subject of the dispute which has arisen with regard to the administration of the land in the occupation of the Chinese Eastern Railway Company.
From the information contained in this despatch it would seem unlikely that His Majesty's Government will be able to support the Russian view; but at Harbin there are not, so far, either British subjects or any British trade interests of importance, so that neither our interests in North Manchuria nor considerations of general policy appear to make it necessary or desirable for His Majesty's Government to take any prominent part in the dispute at its present stage.
You will recollect, moreover, that in his telegram No. 63 of the 12th ultimo, Sir J. Jordan requested me, before taking further action in the matter, to await the receipt of two despatches which he had addressed to me on the subject. The inclosed is the first of these despatches, and I propose to postpone giving any answer to the Russian Government until the second despatch has been received and its contents have been duly considered.
Our interests in South Manchuria are of a more substantial kind, and, should they be endangered by the extension southwards of the principle which the Russians are seeking to establish at Harbin, we may have to press, as occasion arises, for fair treatment in those regions; but meanwhile it will, I think, be only necessary for us to watch closely the attitude of the United States of America and the other Powers more directly interested in the North, with a view to consulting, if necessary, as to the best method of safeguarding our interests in the South.
I have, &c.
E. GREY.
(Signed)
* Sir J. Jordan, No. 82, February 17, 1908.
↑ Sir J. Jordan, No. 198, April 16, 1908.
[2921 p-1]
[A]
6.0.
ament is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Governme 1.4855
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[April 15.]
SECTION 1.
23 NPR 08
367
[11447]
Sir,
No. 1.
Sir Edward Grey to Sir A. Nicolson.
(No. 102. Confidential.)
Foreign Office, April 15, 1908. WITH reference to my despatch No. 76 of the 16th March, I transmit to your Excellency herewith a copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Minister at Peking, on the subject of the dispute which has arisen with regard to the administration of the land in the occupation of the Chinese Eastern Railway Company.
From the information contained in this despatch it would seem unlikely that His Majesty's Government will be able to support the Russian view; but at Harbin there are not, so far, either British subjects or any British trade interests of importance, so that neither our interests in North Manchuria nor considerations of general policy appear to make it necessary or desirable for His Majesty's Government to take any prominent part in the dispute at its present stage.
You will recollect, moreover, that in his telegram No. 63 of the 12th ultimo, Sir J. Jordan requested me, before taking further action in the matter, to await the receipt of two despatches which he had addressed to me on the subject. The inclosed is the first of these despatches, and I propose to postpone giving any answer to the Russian Government until the second despatch has been received and its contents have been duly considered.
Our interests in South Manchuria are of a more substantial kind, and, should they be endangered by the extension southwards of the principle which the Russians are seeking to establish at Harbin, we may have to press, as occasion arises, for fair treatment in those regions; but meanwhile it will, I think, be only necessary for us to watch closely the attitude of the United States of America and the other Powers more directly interested in the North, with a view to consulting, if necessary, as to the best method of safeguarding our interests in the South.
I have, &c.
E. GREY.
(Signed)
* Sir J. Jordan, No. 82, February 17, 1908.
↑ Sir J. Jordan, No. 198, April 16, 1908.
[2921 p-1]
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