CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909 — Page 622

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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government 1

617

C.O.

AFFAIRS OF CHINA.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[252]

No. 1.

9564

[January

SECTION

TREAD

REG 18 MAR 09

Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received January 3.) (No. 4.) (Telegraphic.) P.

Peking, January 3, 1909. MACAO. I spoke to my Portuguese colleague on the subject of the fresh incident referred to in your telegram No. 2 of yesterday's date. He left me under the impression that the matter was not serious.

The action of the Hong Kong Government in expelling Chinese from the island as a result of the recent anti-Japanese riots, bas aroused strong feeling against us in Southern China, a feeling which has not been weakened at Canton by our close identification with the Portuguese over the "Fatshan case, reported to you in my telegram No. 1 of yesterday's date.

"

The present moment is, in my opinion, far from opportune for us to press Portuguese claims on the Chinese Government, and I would advise against any step of a nature likely to expose British trade in South China to the danger of a general boycott, except in the event of an actual attack on Macao, of which there seems no probability at present.

[253]

No. 2.

(No. 5.)

Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.~(Received January 3.)

(Telegraphic.) P.

DISMISSAL of Yuan-Shih-Kai.

Peking, January 3, 1909.

The question of addressing representations to the Chinese Government, on the grounds expressed in my telegram No. 3 of the 2nd instant, was discussed to-day at an informal meeting of the Diplomatic Corps, the Legations of Spain, Portugal, Holland, and Belgium alone being unrepresented.

The proposal was accepted in principle.

The desirability of adding to the weight of the representations by addressing them, if possible, direct to the Prince Regent, was recognized, and it is therefore proposed to request an audience. The representations would only be sent through the Wai-wu Pu in the event of audience with the Prince Regent being refused, as indeed will probably be the case, Court mourning serving as a convenient pretext.

Following is the French text of a note which is suggested as a basis for the proposed communication :-

"Le Ministre de

prie le Wai-wou Pou de vouloir bien transmettre

à son Altesse Impériale le Prince Régent l'expression des appréhensions que cause au Gouvernement

le départ du Grand Conseil de son Excellence Yuan- Che-K'ai.

"Eu ce moment où, par suite du décès de leurs Majestés Impériales, les regards du monde civilisé sont dirigés vers la Chine, le départ de son Excellence Yuan-Che-K‘ai, qui était universellement considéré comme un des principaux artisans du progrès en Chine, risque d'être interprété dans un sens défavorable et d'entraîner une certaine diminution de la confiance avec laquelle les Puissances suivaient le développement politique et économique de l'Empire chinois et étaient disposées à y concourir.

"Les Puissances seraient heureuses sí la suite des événements venaient vite dissiper leurs appréhensions et si elles pouvaient ainsi continuer à la Chine, sous le gouverne- ment du Prince Régent, leur bienveillante sympathie."

I

may

add that delay would deprive the representations of all effect, and they should be handed in at the earliest opportunity, certainly before Yuan's departure, which is to take place in a few days' time.

[2116 c-1]