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Telegram to the Cantonese Officials in Peking, the President of the Board of Punish- ments, his Excellency Liang Tun Yen, for communication to his Excellency Chong Chih Tung.
Referring to the delimitation of Macao, Portugal is showing the greatest cupidity, and will make encroachments if we give way in the least degree. The whole province is anxious, and request you to telegraph to the Viceroy and Commissioner Kao to insist on the ancient land boundary and not to yield a foot of territory. The waters, none of which belong to Portugal, must be still further protected. His Excellency Chang Chih Tung, when Viceroy, was very anxious to recover our rights. We beg that the greatest care may be taken in the present crisis.
Telegram to Associations in the Ports, viz., the "Chung Hua Hui Kuan," in Honolulu. the "Kuang Chao Kung So," in Shanghae, and the "Yang Ho Hui Kuan," in California.
All Kuangtung is united in resisting encroachments in the delimitation of Macao. We trust that you will telegraph to the Viceroy, the Wai-wu Pu, and our compatriots in all ports to insist on the ancient land boundary and, still more, on retaining the surrounding waters.
(From Yang Ying Lin, Heungshan Committee for the Investigation of the Macao Delimitation.)
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[15707]
No. 1.
C.0. 16123
323
[April 27.]
13 MAY OF
SECTION 1.
Sir Edward Grey to Sir J. Jordan.
(No. 77. Confidential.) (Telegraphic.)__P.
Foreign Office, April 27, 1909. CHINESE Maritime Customs. Sir R. Hart's successor. My telegram No. 58, Confidential, of the 30th ultimo.
Sir Robert Hart came to see me on the 22nd instant, and told me that the Chinese Government had clearly indicated that they wished him to return. He said that he would decide upon what he was going to do in the first week in May, and that, if he returned to China, he would sail early in July.
He approached the subject of Sir Robert Bredon quite frankly, and said that all the letters which he had received from members of the Customs service since his departure from China asked for his return. He could not, he said, in view of the attitude of His Majesty's Government, again nominate Sir R. Bredon to act for him during his absence or recommend him as his successor.
Sir R. Hart told me that he intended to abolish the post of deputy-inspector of customs, from which much inconvenience has arisen in the past, and that, if he returned to China, he would arrange with Sir Robert Bredon to go on leave for some time and then retire.
I said that the attitude of His Majesty's Government in the matter of the succession would be rather negative than positive, as it was essential that the person selected should possess the confidence of the members of the Customs service and of the commercial community, and at the same time that of the Chinese Government upon whom we did not wish to force someone they did not want.
Sir R. Hart referred to the proposal made by Tong-Shao-yi that someone should be chosen from outside the service and expressed the opinion that this would be a mistake and would create great resentment in the service. He added that the service contained several good men, and instanced Oliver and Aglen as being amongst them.
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