[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL,
[2824]
C.O.
90
12734uary 21.1
RECR REGP 14 APR OC
SECTION 1.
No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received January 21.) (No. 30.) (Telegraphic.) P.
Peking, January 21, 1909. THE dismissal of Yuan Shih-kai must undoubtedly be considered as having a serious effect in taking away much of the practical importance to be attached to Tong Shoa-yi's Mission. As regards naval and financial matters, the authority which Tong possessed under the original programme may now have been considerably diminished, nor can it be said that his opinions are likely to carry much weight with the Govern- ment on his return to China.
The nature of his Mission, on the other hand, remains officially the same, and I would advise that the recent political events should be ignored as far as he is concerned, and that he should be received as Special Envoy.
The Customs succession question, as to which you inquire in your telegram No. 21 of yesterday's date, should, I think, be discussed with Tong. The Chinese are, judging from present appearances, clinging to the hope that we shall, on the expiry of the year's probation, consent to Sir Robert Bredon being given substantive rank, and my position in the final negotiations would be greatly strengthened if the Govern- ment here were shown that our attitude on the question remains still unchanged.
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