CO129-373 - Public Offices - 1910 — Page 534

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

AFFAIRS OF CHINA.

CONFIDENTIAL,

[42787]

CO 39116

[November 24.]

SECTION 3.

EC

#23 FC 10 No. 1.

(No. 403.) Sir,

Mr. Max Müller to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received November 24.)

Peking, November 8, 1910,

I HAVE the honour to transmit herewith copy of a despatch from His Majesty's consul-general at Shanghai, covering a report by the municipal council on the conditions prevailing in Chapei under Chinese administration.

The conclusions to be deduced from this report, which was called for in the letter of the 13th June last from the dean of the diplomatic body to the senior consul (see Enclosure 1 in my despatch No. 233 of the 19th July) are that there has been little improvement in the sanitary and police conditions of the district in question.

I have recently had an opportunity of discussing the question of the extension of the international settlement with Mr. Landale, the chairman of the municipal council, who admitted that it was hardly within the range of practical politics, and that the consent of the Chinese Government could only be obtained by force.

I mentioned the subject again to the American Minister yesterday, and he told me he had grave doubts as to the justice of the request, and still more as to the advisability of putting it forward. It is, however, very evident that the state of affairs existing in the Chinese quarter bordering on the limits of the settlement constitutes a menace to health and public security, and I venture to submit for your consideration whether under present conditions in China the definite abandonment of the claim to an extension would not offer the best prospect of obtaining a clear demarcation of the frontier and an improvement in the sanitary and police conditions.

I have, &c.

W. G. MAX MÜLLER.

Enclosure 1 in No. 1.

(No. 77.) Sir,

Consul-General Sir P. Warren to Mr. Max Müller,

Shanghai, October 31, 1910. I HAVE the honour to forward herewith in triplicate cuttings from the "Municipal Gazette," giving at length a report, submitted by the council to the consular body, on the conditions prevailing in Chapoi under Chinese administration.

This report was called for by the doyen of the diplomatic corps in a despatch dated the 9th June, 1910, in order that the diplomatic body might be in a position to take up again the discussion of this matter with the Chinese Government.

Owing to delay in preparation of the plans connected with the report I am unable to forward them at present, but will do so as soon as they are complete.

I have, &c.

PELHAM L. WARREN.

Sir,

Enclosure 2 in No. 1.

Extracts from the Shanghai "Municipal Gazette.”

M. Siffert to the Chairman of the Municipal Council.

Shanghai, July 13, 1910. WITH reference to the question of settlement extension, I am directed to request that you will kindly let the consuls have any information that may be in the

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