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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
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34966
TRECT (REG: 25 OCT 09
717
Inclosure 6 in No. 1.
Acting Consul-General Willis to Sir J. Jordan.
(No. 34.) Sir,
Mukden, August 19, 1909 WITH reference to my despatches No. 29 and 30 of the 13th and 14th instant, reporting the particulars of Messrs. Craig and Co.'s case at Harbin, a point has occurred to me on which I venture to ask your instructions.
Messrs. Craig and Co. never notifies to me their intention of opening a branch at Harbin and I think it very improbable that either the Russian or Chinese authorities were notified of this fact or informed that the warehouse, which was the subject of the dispute, was held in the name of a British firm, even supposing this to have been the case, a point on which Messrs. Craig and Co.'s agent has given me no information.
Unless the Russian authorities are notified in such cases, it seems to me that it will be difficult under the peculiar conditions obtaining in Harbin to avoid similar misunderstandings in the future, especially when the British firm is represented by a non-British subject.
My own opinion is that it would be as well to inform the Russian consulate- general in the event of British firms establishing themselves in railway territory.
I have, &c.
ROBERT WILLIS.
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[35428]
No. 1.
Sir Edward Grey to Sir J. Jordan.
[September 27.]
SECTION 4,
(No. 161.) (Telegraphic.) P.
Foreign Office, September 27, 1909. I HAVE been informed by Sir R. Hart that he has deferred his departure, which was to have taken place in October. His return seems doubtful, although he now talks of the new year.
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