This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
C.O.
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
(
[34144]
No. 1.
[October 0052
SECTION 5.
2 NO. 08
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-Received October 3.)
(No. 368. Confidential.)
Peking, August 18, 1908. Sir,
IN continuation of my despatch No. 360, Confidential. of the 6th instant, I have the honour to report that a Secretary from the Wai-wu Pu called at the Legation on the following day, and under instructions from the Grand Secretary Na Tung, asked Mr. Campbell to assure me that, in using the language which they had applied to Macao in their note of the 31st July, the Wai-wu Pu had no intention of seriously contesting the Portuguese sovereignty of the place. They, however, realized that the text of the note was open to grave objection, and they proposed to expunge the words "with the exception of Macao, which is subject to the procedure applicable to the leased territory," and substitute for them the words "with the exception of Macao, which is to be dealt with in accordance with Treaty."
Mr. Campbell, after consulting me, informed the Secretary that the proposed alteration, while not fulfilling the terms of the Treaty as regards the "dependencies of Macao," removed the fundamental objection which the former wording involved and rendered it possible, in my opinion, for the Portuguese Chargé d'Affaires to accept the note in its amended form, reserving to himself, of course, the right of protesting against the inadequate construction which it sought to place upon the Treaty of 1887.
The revised note was forwarded in due course to M. Brederode, who expressed his satisfaction at the result, which he telegraphed to his Government. In their telegraphic reply, copy of which I have the honour to inclose herewith, the Government at Lisbon notified to the Chinese Government the appointment of Delegates to undertake the work of delimitation, and insisted, as a condition precedent, upon the withdrawal of the Chinese troops from the places in dispute.
A careful study of the negotiations between the Portuguese Plenipotentiary and the Chinese Government in the years 1902 and 1904, a summary of which will be found in the inclosed Memorandum, forces me to the conclusion that a settlement of this long-pending question is hardly to be expected at present. The circumstances, as they existed a few years ago, were far more favourable for a solution than they are at present.
Senhor Castello Branco, the Portuguese negotiator of those days, was a personality of some importance, and represented a country which still enjoyed a considerable measure of respect in China. Recent events in Portugal have diminished her prestige in the Far East, and the character of her representation in Peking during the larger part of the interval which has since elapsed has been particularly unfortunate, and severely condemned by the Portuguese themselves.
Senhor Branco, whose mission had as its original object the delimitation of Macao and its "dependencies," came to China just after the Protocol of 1901 had been signed. Portugal had not yet given her adhesion to the Protocol, and, backed with the support of the British Government, the Portuguese negotiator was furnished with a strong lever in making Portugal's assent to the Tariff dependent upon an undertaking by China to carry out the provisions of the Treaty of 1887. He was also able to hold out to China the prospect of a largely increased duty upon prepared opium entering China from Macao, and the promise of Portuguese co-operation in repressing piracy on the West River if China would consent to such territorial readjustment as would enable Portugal to undertake the necessary works for the development of the harbour of Macao.
The situation has undergone a great change in the interval. Portuguese adhesion to the Protocol has long been an accomplished fact. The nature of Portuguese co-operation in repressing piracy was illustrated by the "Tatsu Maru" case, which resulted in the present trouble. As regards prepared opium, China knows very well that, having quite recently made an Arrangement with Hong Kong, she can trust to the forthcoming Opium Commission at Shanghae and the pressure of public opinion to bring Portugal into line with the British Colony.
Apart from all this, opinion in China itself is now extremely sensitive on territorial questions, and it may safely be assumed that the views of Canton will be those of
[1982 c-5]
B
125
Page 363
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Page 363
JThis Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
C.0.
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
(
[34144]
No. 1.
[October 0052
SECTION 5.
2 NO. 08
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-Received October 3.)
(No. 368. Confidential.)
Peking, August 18, 1908. Sir,
IN continuation of my despatch No. 360, Confidential. of the 6th instant, I have the honour to report that a Secretary from the Wai-wu Pu called at the Legation on the following day, and under instructions from the Grand Secretary Na Tung, asked Mr. Campbell to assure me that, in using the language which they had applied to Macao in their note of the 31st July, the Wai-wu Pu had no intention of seriously contesting the Portuguese sovereignty of the place. They, however, realized that the text of the note was open to grave objection, and they proposed to expunge the words "with the exception of Macao, which is subject to the procedure applicable to the leased terri- tory," and substitute for them the words "with the exception of Macao, which is to be dealt with in accordance with Treaty."
Mr. Campbell, after consulting me, informed the Secretary that the proposed alteration, while not fulfilling the terms of the Treaty as regards the " dependencies of Macao, removed the fundamental objection which the former wording involved and rendered it possible, in my opinion, for the Portuguese Chargé d'Affaires to accept the note in its amended form, reserving to himself, of course, the right of protesting against the inadequate construction which it sought to place upon the Treaty of 1887.
The revised note was forwarded in due course to M. Brederode, who expressed his satisfaction at the result, which he telegraphed to his Government. In their telegraphic reply, copy of which I have the honour to inclose herewith, the Government at Lisbon notified to the Chinese Government the appointment of Delegates to undertake the work of delimitation, and insisted, as a condition precedent, upon the withdrawal of the Chinese troops from the places in dispute.
A careful study of the negotiations between the Portuguese Plenipotentiary and the Chinese Government in the years 1902 and 1904, a summary of which will be found in the inclosed Memorandum, forces me to the conclusion that a settlement of this long- pending question is hardly to be expected at present. The circumstances, as they existed a few years ago, were far more favourable for a solution than they are at present.
Senhor Castello Branco, the Portuguese negotiator of those days, was a personality of some importance, and represented a country which still enjoyed a considerable measure of respect in China, Recent events in Portugal have diminished her prestige in the Far East, and the character of her representation in Peking during the larger part of the interval which has since elapsed has been particularly unfortunate, and severely condemned by the Portuguese themselves.
Senhor Branco, whose mission had as its original object the delimitation of Macao and its "dependencies," came to China just after the Protocol of 1901 had been signed. Portugal had not yet given her adhesion to the Protocol, and, backed with the support of the British Government, the Portuguese negotiator was furnished with a strong lever in making Portugal's assent to the Tariff dependent upon an undertaking by China to carry out the provisions of the Treaty of 1887. He was also able to hold out to China the prospect of a largely increased duty upon prepared opium entering China from Macao, and the promise of Portuguese co-operation in repressing piracy on the West River if China would consent to such territorial readjustment as would enable Portugal to undertake the necessary works for the development of the harbour of Macao.
The situation has undergone a great change in the interval. Portuguese adhesion The nature of Portuguese to the Protocol has long been an accomplished fact. co-operation in repressing piracy was illustrated by the "Tatsu Maru" case, which resulted in the present trouble. As regards prepared opium, China knows very well that, having quite recently made an Arrangement with Hong Kong, she can trust to the forthcoming Opium Commission at Shanghae and the pressure of public opinioa to bring Portugal into line with the British Colony.
Apart from all this, opinion in China itself is now extremely sensitive on territorial questions, and it may safely be assumed that the views of Canton will be those of
[1982 c-5]
B
125
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