[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
(1973)
No. 1.
163
со
[January 18,3502 SECT RES
TRES 3 FEB 10.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received January 18, 1910.)
(No. 492.) Sir,
Peking, December 29, 1909. IN my despatch No. 436 of the 26th ultimo I commented at length upon the dismissal of Tuan Fang and the intrigues in the Palace, of which it is an outward sign.
I now have the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a despatch from His Majesty's consul-general at Tien-tsin on this subject. The frequent changes in the Viceroyalty of Chih-li constitute, as Mr. Fulford points out, a great hindrance to the transaction of public business, and I have already had occasion to comment on this feature of the situation in my despatch No. 434 of the 24th ultimo respecting the affairs of the Chinese Engineering and Mining Company.
Copies of a memorial by the present Viceroy at Nanking and of an Imperial decree concerning Tuan Fang's dismissal are enclosed herewith."
It is generally believed that the publication of these documents was an after- thought on the part of the Prince Regent to justify a step which has given rise to much dissatisfaction.
Enclosure in No. 1.
I have, &c.
J. N. JORDAN.
(No. 80.) Sir,
Consul-General Fulford to Sir J. Jordan,
Tien-tsin, December 20, 1909. I HAD the honour to report in my telegram of the 24th ultimo the dismissal of the Viceroy Tuan Fang.
The Treasurer of the province, Ts'ni Yung-an, having been appointed Acting Viceroy, arrived in Tien-tsin from Pao Ting Fu on the 27th ultimo, and was at the railway station on the departure of Tuan for Peking, which took place the same day.
As a proof of the genuine sympathy felt for Tuan, I would mention that apparently the entire body of Chinese Tien-tsin officials were present at the station to see him off. The consular body, the commandants of foreign troops, and many leading foreign residents were also there to wish the ex-Viceroy good-bye. Such a manifesta- tion towards a fallen leader on the part of Chinese officialdom is unique in my experience.
I have heard but one opinion on all sides, Chinese and foreign, with regard to the dismissal of Tuan, and that is surprise and indignation that so able a public servant should be deprived of the opportunity of working for his country on so trivial a pretext as the one alleged.
To turn to another aspect of such treatment of China's best officials, it does not conduce to satisfactory arrangement of international questions in this important centre that there should be such constant changes of the pivot of all progress. In the course of the last eight months, since my arrival in Tien-tsin, we have had four occupants of the vice-regal position. We shall soon have the fifth, and it is freely rumoured that his appointment is only temporary.
It is not surprising that difficulties appear to be experienced in finding suitable men for the post, liable, as it seems to be, to the caprices of Palace intrigue, and no doubt tenable only at the cost of large "presents to influential persons about the Court.
23
The Acting Viceroy Ts'ui, after some hesitation and suggestion that the consuls should pay him the first call, called upon the consuls on the 10th instant.
He did not, however, himself write to the consuls to announce his arrival, but the Customs Taotai did so by his orders. This has become the practice in Tien-tsin of * Not printed.
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