CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909 — Page 400

[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.}

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398

AFFAIRS OF CHINA.

CONFIDENTIAL.

(2150]

No. 1.

5944

[January 20

TREGE T8 FEE 09 SECTION 3.

Sir,

Sir Edward Grey to the Marquis de Soveral,

Foreign Office, January 20, 1909. WITH reference to M. Manoel's communication of the 14th instant, I have the honour to inform you that a telegram regarding the situation at Macao has been received from His Majesty's Minister at Peking.

Sir J. Jordan states that he has submitted to the Wai-wa Pu the proposal of the Portuguese Government regarding the appointment of High Commissioners, and that that body have telegraphed to the Viceroy of Canton, and have promised to endeavour to procure the withdrawal of the military posts, and to make the way easy for the appointment of High Commissioners. The Wai-wu Pu state, however, that the Viceroy at Canton continues to urge upon them the seriousness of the situation. They state that, according to the latest telegram, a Portuguese man-of-war is surveying the waters in dispute with a view to dredging operations. The Viceroy also lays stress upon a telegram from the Chinese Minister in Paris, who states that one Portuguese war-ship is on her way to Macao and another is under orders to proceed thither.

The Wai-wu Pu further states that taxes continue to be levied in the territory which is in dispute, and that papers which they do not understand are put before the Chinese inhabitants, who are forced to sign them.

The action of the Portuguese Government is stated by the Wai-wu Pu to be provoking much excitement locally, and they have requested His Majesty's Government to use their influence with the Portuguese Government for the purpose of stopping this activity pending delimitation.

Meanwhile, Sir J. Jordan suggests that it would be advisable to depute a British Consular officer from Canton to proceed to Macao immediately, in order that His Majesty's Government may be furnished with information at first hand in regard to the questions in dispute, which would obviously place them in a much stronger position in representing the matter to the Chinese Government, and thus enable them to render more effective assistance towards a solution of the difficulties that have arisen.

I have accordingly the honour to express the hope that the Portuguese Govern- ment will approve of this proposal, and will send by telegraph the necessary instructions to the authorities of Macao to give all proper facilities and assistance to the British Consular officer, to enable him to carry out successfully the task intrusted to him.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

E. GREY.

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