22
I again told his Excellency that we were constantly placed in an embarrassing position owing to the ignorance in which we were kept as to the actual demands put forward by Russia in her negotiations with Japan and China. Count Benckendorff expressed the opinion that no serious difficulty was to be anticipated in coming to terms with the Japanese Government, but they must not fortify the south sea-board of Corea. As to China, he was without information as to the causes which led to the reoccupation of Mukden. I said that he must not be surprised if uncharitable comments were made upon the conduct of Russia in this matter. She had announced that the whole province was to be evacuated by the 8th April, and now, six months later, we found her troops going back to the city of Mukden, from which they had been withdrawn not long ago.
He
Count Benckendorff dwelt upon the peculiar situation which had been created by the establishment of the new Far Eastern Vice-Royalty. The result had been that the foreign policy of Russia at this point was no longer one and undivided. evidently wished me to understand that many things happened for which Count Lamsdorff could not be held responsible.
I said that I thought his statement disclosed a grave and most alarming condition of things. How was it possible for us to come to satisfactory understandings with a Foreign Office within which two separate, and, perhaps, conflicting influences were at work? Count Benckendorff agreed with me that the arrangement was most incon- venient, but said significantly that he thought this phase was passing off.
Coming back to Macedonia, Count Benckendorff said that Count Lamsdorff was anxious to have it understood that the policy of the Russian Government did not differ in principle from ours. They had preferred to retain Hilmi Pasha with European assessors rather than appoint a Christian Governor, because they thought the former course the most promising under present conditions. It was a question of opportunity, and Count Lamsdorff admitted that a still further development of the scheme might eventually be inevitable.
I took the opportunity of mentioning to Count Benckendorff that, owing to the outrageous conduct of the Thibetans, who had broken off negotiations with our Representative, seized British subjects, and carried off the transport animals of a friendly State, it had been decided to send our Commission, with a suitable escort, further into Thibetan territory, but that this step must not be taken as indicating any intention of annexing or even of permanently occupying Thibetan territory.
I ani, &c.
23
tration, I called to-day upon the Arbitrator, Mr. Detring.
553
As I anticipated,
Mr. Detring informed me that it is the first of the two views mentioned in Lord Lansdowne's despatch which he had in mind. He had formed the opinion that the Railway Administration originally had not paid sufficient attention to the claims of Prince Su, a fact which he says Hu-Yu-fen has himself virtually admitted in writing; and thought that the Prince had an equitable claim on the railways for compensation. Mr. Detring had at first intended to explain at length the reasons for his Award, but found that he could not do so without naming certain Chinese personages whose part in some of the transactions would have been revealed in a questionable or dis- creditable light, and he therefore refrained from publishing more than the bare decision he had arrived at.
I have, &c.
(No. 325.) My Lord,
No. 33.
(Signed)
L. C. HOPKINS.
Sir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.-(Received November 9.)
Peking, September 19, 1903. I HAVE the honour to transmit herewith to your Lordship a copy of a despatch from the Acting British Cons:1-General at Shanghae, inclosing a letter from the Viceroy Wei again requesting the surrender of the prisoners in the "Supan case.
>>
Your Lordship will notice that the Viceroy's letter bears a date ten days anterior to my conversation with Prince Ch'ing, reported in my telegram No. 220 of the 9th instant, when his Highness said that he would telegraph to the Viceroy to reconsider the Tautai's proposal to add a higher official to the Mixed Court for the trial of the accused, and under these circumstances I do not think it would serve any useful purpose for Mr. Mansfield to pursue the discussion with his Excellency at present.
[ hare, &c. (Signed) ERNEST SATOW.
Inclosure 1 in No. 33.
(Signed)
LANSDOWNE.
(No. 324.) My Lord,
No. 32.
Sir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne,.~{ Received November 9.)
Peking, September 16, 1903. I HAVE the honour to transmit herewith to your Lordship a copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Consul-General at Tien-tsin in answer to an inquiry addressed to him based on your Lordship's despatch No. 208 of the 21st July, respecting the Award in the Tien-tsin Railway Lands Arbitration.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
Inclosure in No. 32.
ERNEST SATOW.
(No. 28.) Sir,
Acting Consul-General Mansfield to Sir E. Satow.
#
Shanghue, September 8, 1903. I HAVE the honour to inclose copy and translation of a despatch from his Excel- lency Viceroy Wei to the senior Consul, again asking that the prisoners in the "Supao case be handed over, This despatch is being forwarded to the doyen of the Corps Diplomatique. I am informed that the Viceroy alleges inability to change the position he takes up, as he is acting under instructions from Peking.
The foreign press in Shanghae contains frequent comments on the injustice which is being done in keeping the six prisoners so long awaiting trial, especially the three prisoners who were arrested in connection with the newspaper "Supao," as counsel for the prosecu- tion do not conceal the fact that there is practically no evidence of their responsibility for or authorship of the newspaper articles complained of.
I have, &c. (Signed) R. W. MANSFIELD.
Inclosure 2 in No. 33,
No. 41. Confidential.) Sir,
Consul-General Hopkins to Sir E. Satow.
Tien-tsin, September 14, 1903.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge receipt of your despatch No. 22 of the 11th instant with its inclosure Foreign Office despatch No. 208 of the 21st July, on the subject of Mr. Detring's first Award in the Chi Chia Lou Land case.
In reply I have the honour to state that with a view to clear up doubt entertained by the Secretary of State as to the meaning to be attributed to the condition attached in the Award to the right of possession of Chi Chia Lou by the Railway Adminis-
(Translation.)
Sir,
Viceroy Wei to Mr. Goodnow.
August 30, 1903. IN the matter of the criminals Chang, Tsou, and the other men who were seized at Shanghae, I have frequently instructed the Taotai to consult you for the handing over of these men, and further bave at different times communicated with the several Consuls asking for the immediate return of these men.
On looking into the British Treaty, section 21, one finds :---
"If Chinese offenders take refuge in the houses or on board the vessels of British
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