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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
70.
505
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[2948]
No. 1.
7798
[January 23.1
Res 4 MAR 09
SECTION
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received January 23, 1909.)
(No. 549. Confidential.) Sir,
Peking, December 8, 1905. WITH reference to my telegram No. 195 of the 30th ultimo, I have the honour to report the impression which the announcement of the Japanese-American Agreement has made here and the reception which was accorded to it by the Chinese authorities.
Some days before it was signed, Mr. Rockhill, the United States' Minister, received instructions from the Secretary of State to communicate it to the Chinese authorities. Mr. Root instructed the Minister to accompany the communication of the text of the instrument with an explanation to the effect that it was the natural outcome of the policy which had been pursued in China for some time past by the American Government, who were desirous to take a further opportunity of recording and emphasizing the principles which it enunciated.
The various Articles of the instrument were accordingly rendered into Chinese and a copy thereof handed personally by Mr. Rockhill to Yuan Shih-k'ai for submission to the Prince Regent and the Council of State. The word "supporting " in the 4th clause had been translated by the phrase "pao hu" in Chinese, which literally means "protecting."
Mr. Rockhill, to whom I am indebted for these details, found Yuan not disposed to express any opinion of his own on the subject and evidently not altogether satisfied with the wording of the document. On the following day Yuan sent a message to the Legation to say that he considered the above expression objectionable, as China was not in the position of a protected State like Corea. The American Minister then for- warded to Yuan the English text and an amended translation, which were in due course submitted to the Prince Regent and the Grand Council, both of whom signified their cordial satisfaction.
I understand that the Japanese Legation would have preferred that concerted action had been taken in making the necessary communication to the Chinese Govern- ment, and that the Japanese Minister was somewhat disappointed to find that he had been forestalled by his American colleague. Mr. Tjuin only made his communication on the 6th instant, and found that it naturally fell rather flat. It was received with apparent indifference and provoked no comment.
Owing to the Court mourning, my opportunities of meeting Chinese officials have been rather limited during the past fortnight, but the general impression 1 have gathered is that the Chinese Government, while regarding all Agreements of this kind as far from complimentary to the international standing of their country, now view them as arrangements which are comparatively harmless provided China takes the lesson to heart and adopts measures of reform which will in time relieve the Powers of the duty of guaranteeing her independence and integrity.
I have, &c. (Signed)
J. N. JORDAN,
(2116-2
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