CO129-371 - Public Offices - 1910 — Page 72

COV

[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.765

AFFAIRS OF CHINA.

CONFIDENTIAL.

46761]

No. 1.

Rcco

RFG? 28 JAN 10

[December 28.]

SECTION 3.

f

(No. 458.) Sir,

Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey-Received December 28.)

Peking, December 9, 1909. THERE having been persistent rumours lately that the Board of Communications was about to take over charge of the postal service, and that all the arrangements for its transfer from the Customs had been completed between the Vice-President of the Board and the Acting Inspector-General of Customs, I took occasion a few days ago to ask Sir Robert Bredon if there was any truth in these reports.

He said that about a year ago the Board of Communications had notified the Revenue Council that they claimed the administration of the postal service as falling properly within their province, and that consultations had taken place between himself, the Council, and the Board on the subject. The dismissal of the President of the Board had put an end to these discussions at that time, and they had since then only been resumed in a desultory fashion from time to time. Sir Robert Bredon had invariably given his advice against the separation of the postal service from the Customs, but he recognised that the step would eventually take place, as the Chinese Government considered it an anomaly that the service should remain under the control of the Customs and the Revenue Council. The change, when it did come, would probably, he thought, come suddenly and without warning.

The attitude of the French Legation towards the proposed change was not altogether clear to him. M. Boissonnas, the late French chargé d'affaires, had professed to view it with disfavour, but M. Piry, the Postal Commissioner, was, he understood, prepared to take service under the Board of Communications. The main object of the Chinese in advocating the change was, in his opinion, to minimise their obligations to the French under the agreement of the 9th April, 1898.

I have, &c.

[2548 ee

~3]

J. N. JORDAN.