CO129-373 - Public Offices - 1910 — Page 17

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

[B]

AFFAIRS OF CHINA,

CONFIDENTIAL.

[29461]

No. 1.

16

со

[August 15913

SECTION 3,5

RegP & SEP 10,

(No. 246.) Sir,

Mr. Max Müller to Sir Edword Grey.~(Received August 15.)

IIIAVE already informed you by my telegram No. 120 of the 13th instant of

Peking, July 27, 1910. the official communication of the Russo-Japanese Convention to the Chinese Government on the 11th instant.

M. Stchékine, the Russian chargé d'affaires, informed me that the members of the Foreign Board appeared to be much preoccupied as to the ulterior meaning of the convention. He delivered a reassuring message as to the real purpose and scope of the agreement, which, from what he tells me, must have been very similar in tenour to the official explanatory statement published in the press, together with the text of the convention. As he was leaving the Wai-wu Pu one of the councillors came out with him, and asked him whether it was true that the new agreement between Russia and Japan was the direct result of the Knox proposal for the neutralisation of the railways in Manchuria, but M. Stchékine was able to reply that he had no reason to believe that such was the case. The councillor then referred to the rumours in the press as to the existence of secret clauses, but M. Stchékine replied that he had no information on the subject at all.

M. Ijuin was received immediately afterwards, and delivered a similar reassuring message, but added the further explanation that it was the false and disturbing rumours which had from time to time been prevalent as to the probability of a renewal of hostilities between Japan and Russia in the Far East that had convinced the two Governments that they should by some overt act prove the baselessness of such reports, which were a menace to the peaceful development not only of their own interests, but also of those of China and other foreign l'owers in Manchuria. M. Ijuin told me that the Wai-wn Pu asked him no questions, though they appeared apprehensive, and they took particular objection to the words in article 3: "In case any event arise of a nature to menace the status quo.'

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M. 1juin, however, was able to explain that these words were not especially directed against any action that China, or, for the matter of that, any other particular Power, might take in Manchuria.

It was, as usual, very difficult at first to ascertain what the views of the Chinese Government were in regard to the convention. The matter was discussed at the Grand Council, and the official Chinese view was embodied in a note sent to all the legations, copy of which I have the honour to enclose herewith. Government take note of the assurances of Russia and Japan, and therefore regard The Chinesc the new convention as a mere reaffirmation of the recognition of the sovereignty of China in Manchuria, and of the principle of the "open door." They will therefore merely continue to act in accordance with the principles of the Treaty of Portsmouth and the Sino-Japanese Treaty of 1905. In fact, the Chinese Government try to make out that the new agreement has in no way affected the political situation in Manchuria.

The Grand Secretary, Na Tung, who, it must be remembered, is strongly pro-Japanese, in talking of the convention said, that at first sight, there was evidently nothing to object to in its terms, as it was in effect a mere confirmation of the convention of 1907. To his mind it was too early to pronounce an opinion, and they must wait and see how the parties to it interpreted it, and put it into practice, as it might manifestly be applied in such a manner as to have a seriously prejudicial effect on China's sovereign rights in Manchuria. In his Excellency's opinion, the agreement was the direct outcome of the Knox proposal, which he qualified as not only ill-timed, but senseless, and he evidently is not at present best pleased with the results of American policy in China. His Excellency said that one of the results of the new convention had been that the Prince Regent had given orders that a more conciliatory attitude should be adopted towards Russia in regard to all pending questions.

[2862 p-3]