CO129-371 - Public Offices - 1910 — Page 566

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This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.

563

[B]

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AFFAIRS OF CHINA.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[13270]

No. 1.

C. 0. [April 12.1

11126550

SECTION 1.

REC

tRea! 28 PK 10

(No. 29.) Sir,

Sir Edward Grey to Sir F. Villiers.

Foreign Office, April 12, 1910. M. DE SOVERAL asked me to-day whether I had said anything lately to the Chinese about Macao.

I replied that I had explained to the Chinese, who had deprecated our interference, that I had no desire to interfere, but that if they took aggressive action Portugal would appeal to our treaty, and the casus fœderis would then arise. In order to avoid this, it was essential that the Chinese should resort to arbitration before taking any aggressive action. A Chinese Prince was intending to come here soon, but as there were two or three matters about which I had had to complain to the Chinese, 1 had told the Chinese Minister that we could not receive the Prince unless his Government observed a friendly attitude with regard to these matters, among which I had mentioned Macao.

M. de Soveral expressed pleasure at what I had told him.

[2729 m-1)

I am, &c.

E. GREY.