When the Board of Trade asked the Foreign Office to request the Chinese Government to erect a lighthouse on the reef, on which Chinese sovereignty has been taken for granted.
In 1902 some correspondence took place between the Government of Hongkong and the Home authorities arising out of an enquiry addressed by the Japanese Consul at Hongkong as to whether Pratas was claimed by any Power. The Lords of the Admiralty pointed out that the atoll had from time immemorial been frequented by Chinese fishing junks during certain seasons of the year and was therefore probably considered by the Viceroy of Kuangtung to be part of his province and the officer administering the Hongkong Government was accordingly instructed to inform the Japanese Consul that, so far as His Majesty's Government were aware, the island had never been occupied by any Power but that, before any action (tending to annexation) was taken by the Japanese Government, it would be desirable to ascertain whether it was claimed by China.
Sir Edward Grey now desires, before taking any steps to protect Messrs. Newman and Wilkinson in their operations
432
‚zefaint a'ytustam atн mort dotegaeb to vqo
to nonrsyes and hoitaja snido, Lelnba ont of unide¶ was nutred to efranco a1„JastøM at one anodynoH
.BUGI „NOI JENQUA
.wojawa
C
aldesiat at mont dotsqaec s beviesst ever I
S REİJosçeen ertatta melenor noi staje to vaje1088
WALSH .&quU9M‚stoeldre daiting owt yď sban Iseoqorq
9nd of Mount!liw mommal bra maweli saxed ILsbr9N
cns xenne uimoda Jnenurievod a'ýjasta ili tedd Joetts
.esed Anido sit at asteng to delat
AM ASLI (4% hoja berantia et loidiw,Jslet aldr
bas mendi. "E 'SA POS 900?ijal ni quotenoll to .1.2
Kseqqs blow, notwпsste to tand 'I 'SA OBII soutignol
de bonisto to Vi beiquod VIIamTot need over of reven
Mort Juf ewes vra to anotaasaaoq edit to Jieq gaiariot
JAM.I 13 mi betofore sonebnoqastro» avonimulov erit
-Boieri su of mono binow sterbenoijnamevoris noteqasb
sevel and thenrisvod suentao sit favoritle,tent anold
How sjelal sat evo vinodtus to Jos you beatorSXS
,800I mi as 50110000 ever anotaa000 Ilots end rrot
t
when the Board of Trade asked the Foreign Office to
request the Chinese Government to erect a lighthouse
on the reef, on which Chinese sovereignty has been
taken for granted.
In
1902 some correspondence took place between
the Government of Hongkong and the Home authorities
arising out of an enquiry addressed by the Japanese
Consul at Hongkong as to whether Pratas was claimed by
any Power. The Lords of the Admiralty pointed out
that the atoll had from time immemorial been frequent-
ed by Chinese fishing junks during certain seasons of
the year and was therefore probably considered by the
Viceroy of Kuangtung to be part of his province and
the officer administering the Hongkong Government was
accordingly instructed to inform the Japanese Consul
that, so far as His Majesty's Government were aware,
the island had never been occupied by any Power but
that, before any action (tending to annexation) was
taken by the Japanese Government, it would be desir-
able to ascertain whether it was claimed by China.
Sir Edward Grey now desires, before taking any
steps to protect Messrs. Newman and Wilkinson in their
operations
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.