[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.j
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[45132]
No. 1.
151
[December 28.]
SECTION 2.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received December 28.)
(No. 507.) Sir,
Peking, November 8, 1908. NO reply having been received from the Wai-wu Pu to his note of the 3rd ultimo respecting the delimitation of Macao, M. Brederode, the Portuguese Chargé d'Affaires, addressed a further communication, copy of which is inclosed, to the Board on the 4th instant, and after referring to another instance of the non- observance of the Macao Port Regulations, reiterated his request for the appointment of Chinese Commissioners to proceed to the work of delimitation in conjunction with the Delegates nominated by Portugal.
M. Brederode asked me to support his request by a verbal representation, and I accordingly saw the Wai-wu Pu on the following day and again pressed them to nominate their Commissioners.
The Grand Secretary Na, who acted as spokesman on the occasion, said that the Board, after full consideration of the circumstances, had decided to endorse the objections which the Viceroy at Canton had made to the composition of the Portuguese Commission, and that they had already drafted a communication to the Portuguese Chargé d'Affaires setting forth in detail the reasons why they regarded the Commissioners as unsuitable.
I expressed disappointment at this announcement, and pointed out to their Excellencies how seriously their proposed action would affect the prospect of an amicable settlement. It was very unusual to make a wholesale objection of this kind, which could scarcely fail to cause umbrage to the Portuguese Government, who ought to be credited with an honest desire to find the men they considered best suited for the work. My only object in intervening was to endeavour to prevent anything in the nature of a misunderstanding and to promote a friendly settlement.
The Grand Secretary, while acknowledging the spirit in which our advice was offered, gave me to understand that their decision was irrevocable. They felt convinced that it would be fruitless to enter into negotiations with the Commissioners nominated by Portugal, and they were not inclined to proceed to delimitation unless fresh appointments were made of men unconnected with Macao, who would approach the task in a spirit of judicial impartiality.
On the following day, the 6th instant, the Memorandum, of which a copy is inclosed, was communicated by the Wai-wu Pu to the Portuguese Chargé d'Affaires, and its substance was telegraphed by M. Brederode to his Government.
Cantonese opinion on this question is so strong and the Cantonese element in the Central Government is so powerful that there seems little hope of obtaining any reversal of the Board's decision.
I have, &c. (Signed)
J. N. JORDAN.
Altesse,
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Senhor Brederode to Prince Ch'ing.
Pékin, le 4 Novembre, 1908.
LA cannonière Chinoise "Foi Vou" est entrée dans le port de Macau le 23 Août dernier et, s'étant refusée à observer le règlement du port, on lui a pour ce motif enjoint de sortir, injonction à laquelle olle à obéi.
Suivant les instructions de mon Gouvernement, je proteste contre le refus da commandant de la dite cannonière, sûr que votre Altesse prendra les mesures néces- saires et promptes pour éviter que des faits pareils, qui offensent nos droits de souveraineté et violent le statu qué établi par le Traité de 1887, se répètent,
Dans l'intention de maintenir les bonnes et cordiales relations qui existent il y a plus de trois siècles entre nos deux pays, je me permets de faire noter à votre
[2049 ee-2]
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.