[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA,
CONFIDENTIAL.
263
C.0
39899
+9 DEC 09
[November 2
SECTION 1,
[42888]
No. 1.
(No. 188.)
Sir Edward Grey to Sir J. Jordan.
Foreign Office, November 22, 1909.
(Telegraphic.) P.
INSPECTORATE-GENERAL of Customs. The question as to whether Sir R. Hart is to return to China or not cannot be definitely settled before January, when he has promised to let me know. As to the deputy inspectorship, Sir R. Hart asks us most particularly not to take any definite action in the mater of displacing Bredon, since he fears that this may give an opening to those who would wish to separate the postal service from the customs, while some foreign Power might claim that Bredon's successor should be a foreigner, as long as the inspector himself was of British nationality. He seems to think that this difficulty as to the succession to the deputy inspectorate can only be permanently obviated by the abolition of the post itself. His Majesty's Government are determined to continue their opposition to Bredon's succession to the post of inspectorate-general, but, beyond informing Sir R. Hart of this, they have not pledged themselves to him as regards any particular line of action.
[2495 y-1]
sc June
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