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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Go
c.o
9564
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[1188]
No. 1.
RECO
Rece18 MAR 09:
[January 10.]
SECTION 1.
Sir C. MacDonald to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received January 10.)
(No. 3.) (Telegraphic.) P.
Tokió, January 10, 1909. DISMISSAL of Yuan-shih-kai, referred to in my telegram No. 1 of the 6th instant. Please see last paragraph.
When Count Komura told me that the Japanese Representative in Peking had received instructions to join in any representations which his colleagues might make regarding Yuan, he added, as his personal opinion, that it was unlikely that such representations would ever be made in a concerted form because of the inevitable difficulty in such cases of the Powers being able to agree on the wording and manner of putting forward such representations.
It has since then become abundantly clear that the Japanese Government look upon Yuan's dismissal as a purely personal matter. They would prefer not to interfere on his behalf so long as no wholesale dismissal of his nominees takes place and his personal safety is assured. Such interference, they consider, would rather have the appearance of meddling in the private affairs of the Court and Government.
It should not be forgotten, however, that Yuan-shih-kai and his lieutenant, Tong Shao-yi, are known to be not only the imitators but among the strongest supporters of the rights recovery policy. While other nations have not escaped the effects of this policy, the Japanese especially were hit pretty hard when engaged in settling the details relating to Concessions granted before the late war or obtained as the result of it.
As far as the Japanese are concerned, then, what happens to Yuan is a matter of indifference, though there may not be absent a secret source of satisfaction at his downfall, so long as it does not disturb the peace of the Far East or alter the policy of reform.
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