This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[36201]
No. 1.
[October 19.]
SECTION 1.
(No. 396.) Sir,
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received October 19.)
Peking, September 3, 1908. WITH reference to my despatch No. 327 of the 20th July last respecting the navigation of the Poyang Lake, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a despatch from the Commander-in-chief of the China squadron on the subject.
I was unaware until the receipt of this despatch that the visits of British gun-boats to the lake had been temporarily discontinued, and I have addressed a despatch to Admiral Lambton concurring in his Excellency's proposal that they should be resumed.
With regard to the incident which forms the subject of the inclosure to Admiral Lambton's despatch, I have received a despatch from His Majesty's Consul at Kiukiang stating that the Chinese local authorities have agreed to pay the full value of the consignment of oil belonging to the Asiatic Petroleum Company, and the occurrence would therefore appear to have no further significance or interest.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
Sir,
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Vice-Admiral Sir H. Lambton to Sir J. Jordan.
"King Alfred," at Wei-hai Wei, August 14, 1908.
I HAVE the honour to forward, for your Excellency's information, an extract from a report of proceedings of His Majesty's ship "Kinsha."
You will doubtless have received information with regard to the cargo of oil sent to Nanchang by the British Asiatic Petroleum Company.
As regards the latter portion of the inclosure, I considered it advisable to suspend temporarily the visits of the gun-boats to the Poyang Lake so as to avoid the appearance of deliberately irritating the Chinese authorities, but, with your Excellency's concurrence, I propose that this embargo should now be withdrawn and occasional visits resumed.
The lake is of great value as a cruising ground, where the gun-boats can escape the great heat of the river, and is of immense benefit to the health of the crews, and I shall be glad of your Excellency's opinion as to now allowing the gun-boats to return to it.
I have, &c. (Signed) H. LAMBTON.
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Extract from Letter of Proceedings of His Majesty's Ship "Kinsha,” dated August 1, 1908.
THE British Asiatic Petroleum Company sent recently a consignment of oil to their agent at Nanchang in a junk in tow of a steam-launch. The oil arrived in the evening at Nanchang, and was to be unloaded next morning. In the evening, however, a party of the Governor's soldiers came down, ordered the junk captain to unload his junk so that they might go to Kiukiang in it. He informed them that he could not do this as he was chartered by a British Company, whereupon the soldiers unloaded the junk, pitching the oil anywhere until there was sufficient room to stow themselves in, ordered the steam-launch to go back to Kiukiang. The agent at Nanchang, a small
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This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[36201]
No. 1.
.[October 19.]
SECTION 1.
(No. 396.) Sir,
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received October 19.)
Peking, September 3, 1908. WITH reference to my despatch No. 327 of the 20th July last respecting the navigation of the Poyang Lake, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a despatch from the Commander-in-chief of the China squadron on the subject.
was unaware until the receipt of this despatch that the visits of British gun-boats to the lake had been temporarily discontinued, and I have addressed a despatch to Admiral Lambton concurring in his Excellency's proposal that they should be resumed.
With regard to the incident which forms the subject of the inclosure to Admiral Lambton's despatch, I have received a despatch from His Majesty's Consul at Kiukiang stating that the Chinese local authorities have agreed to pay the full value of the consignment of oil belonging to the Asiatic Petroleum Company, and the occurrence would therefore appear to have no further significance or interest.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
Sir,
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Vice-Admiral Sir H. Lambton to Sir J. Jordan.
"King Alfred," at Wei-hai Wei, August 14, 1908.
I HAVE the honour to forward, for your Excellency's information, an extract from
a report of proceedings of His Majesty's ship "Kinsha.'
You will doubtless have received information with regard to the cargo of oil sent
to Nanchang by the British Asiatic Petroleum Company.
As regards the latter portion of the inclosure, I considered it advisable to suspend temporarily the visits of the gun-boats to the Poyang Lake so as to avoid the appearance of deliberately irritating the Chinese authorities, but, with your Excellency's concurrence, I propose that this embargo should now be withdrawn and occasional visits resumed.
The lake is of great value as a cruising ground, where the gun-boats can escape the great heat of the river, and is of immense benefit to the health of the crews, and I shall be glad of your Excellency's opinion as to now allowing the gun-boats to
return to it.
I have, &c. (Signed)
H. LAMBTON.
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Extract from Letter of Proceedings of His Majesty's Ship " Kinsha,” dated
August 1, 1908.
THE British Asiatic Petroleum Company sent recently a consigument of oil to their agent at Nanchang in a junk in tow of a steam-launch. The oil arrived in the evening at Nanchang, and was to be unloaded next morning. In the evening, however, a party of the Governor's soldiers came down, ordered the junk captain to unload his junk so that they might go to Kiukiang in it. He informed them that he could not do this as he was chartered by a British Company, whereupon the soldiers unloaded the junk, pitching the oil anywhere until there was sufficient room to stow themselves in, ordered the steam-launch to go back to Kiukiang. The agent at Nanchang, a small
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140
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