CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908 — Page 595

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

35745

592

AFFAIRS OF CHINA.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[31029]

No. 1.

2 001 08

[September 7.]

SECTION 10.

:

(No. 317.) Sir,

Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received September 7.)

Peking, July 14, 1908. MR. PARLETT, His Majesty's Vice-Consul at Tairen, has forwarded to me a copy of his despatch No. 64, Secret, of the 3rd instant to His Majesty's Ambassador at Tôkiô, and I desire to offer the following observations on certain suggestions which he makes with regard to the Consular establishment in Manchuria.

Mr. Parlett considers that an assistant should be selected from the Japau establish- ment for temporary service in the Consulate-General at Mukden, and points out that without such assistance the Consul-General is at a great disadvantage in procuring accurate information to enable him to form a proper conception of Japanese policy in Manchuria.

The same idea has more than once occurred to myself, but I have come to the conclusion that, whilst it has obvious advantages, it is open to serious objection. It would convey to the Chinese the impression that we regarded Japanese interests in Manchuria as of predominant importance, and would at once suggest to them the example of Corea, where the increase of Japanese influence produced a similar change in the personnel of the Consular establishment in that country. The Governor of Mukden, Tong Shao-yi, whose dislike of the Japanese dates from his early experiences in Corea, would be the first to resent the step, and we should lose more by antagonizing him than we should gain by any increased knowledge of Japanese doings.

Tong, I may mention, has just entered into an agreement with a British engineer to survey the Liao River and report upon the question of securing a winter port for Newchwang, and he makes no secret of his desire to utilize American or British, rather than Japanese, assistance in developing the resources of Manchuria.

With Mr. Parlett's second suggestion, that His Majesty's Vice-Consul at Tairen should report on any question in Manchuria in which the Japanese are concerned, I am in full agreement, and I also indorse, and have endeavoured as far as possible to give effect to, his third suggestion as regards the exchange of despatches of general interest between the Consulates in Manchuria. Mr. Parlett sends copies of the despatches he addresses to Tokio through His Majesty's Consul-General at Mukden to this Legation, His Majesty's Vice-Consul at Antung does the same, and arrangements have lately been made for keeping the Consulate at Newchwang informed of what is passing at the other ports. On the other hand, the Consul-General at Mukden is furnished confidentially with copies of my despatches to the Foreign Office on matters relating to Manchuria.

Mr. Parlett's fourth proposal, regarding the distribution of confidential print, has been anticipated by your despatch No. 407 of the 17th October, 1907.

British interests at Harbin are already in charge of His Majesty's Consul-General at Mukden, who is Consul-General for Manchuria, and I still adhere to the view expressed in my despatch No. 219 of the 19th May, that an occasional visit by him to Harbin should suffice for the present.

I am sending a copy of this despatch to His Majesty's Ambassador at Tôkið.

I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.

[1933 g-10]