CO129-373 - Public Offices - 1910 — Page 6

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(Translation.) Sir,

Enclosure in No. 1.

Wai-wu Pu to Mr. Mar Müller.

June 10, 1910.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 3rd June, At the same time, you added that you in which you state that you had been instructed to notify that His Majesty's Govern- ment must await Mr. Consul Rose's full report before replying to the Board's note of the 10th May with reference to Pienma. were instructed to invite attention to Sir E. Satow's note of the 30th January, 1904, in which reference was made to a conflict which arose in 1900 between British and Chinesse troops in the neighbourhood in question. Further, that the intentions of His Majesty's Government had already been communicated to the Chinese Government in Sir E. Satow's note of the 1st May, 1906.

I have the honour to observe that as regards the boundary of the Tengyueh northern section, Sir E. Satow stated in his note above referred to that His Majesty's Government would regard as the frontier the watershed between the Irrawaddy and Shuili Rivers until the head-waters of the Sbuili are passed, and from thence to the confines of Thibet the watershed between the Irrawaddy and Salween basins. Now it is inevitable that, if the frontier is taken to be wherever these rivers flow to, the area included will be very extensive. The Board were therefore unable to agree to this.

With regard to this matter, the Board has received a reply from the Viceroy of Yüunan which contains a statement that the upper water of the Irrawaddy is the N'Maikha River, which is on the Tengyuel boundary. This happens to agree with the statement made by Sir E. Satow in his note when he pointed out that the watershed to the east of the N'Maikha was the most satisfactory and easily recognisable natural boundary.

to the up The Board had already requested Mr. Carnegie, His Majesty's chargé d'affaires, that a careful examination should be made and the matter negotiated, but present nothing has been settled. I have now received your despatch ignoring the request to appoint officers for a joint delimitation, and merely stating that it was the intention of His Majesty's Government to instruct the Government of Burmah to occupy and administer the territory in question. How can such a procedure be compatible with the principles of right? The former case of the raid by the Govern- meut of Burmal's troops when they crossed the frontier still remains unsettled, and bas caused great resentment among the native tribes. If another unexpected collision takes place, the Yunnan provincial authorities will be unable to accept any responsi- bility in the matter. This is a matter affecting the frontier affairs of our two countries, and we ought carefully to examine the conditions and negotiate in a friendly manner. A joint delimitation should be made in accordance with the dictates of justice.

As regards Pienma that place is under Chinese jurisdiction, and any cases that oecur must be dealt with by the officials in charge, and the British consul should not interfere.

I have the honour to communicate this reply for transmission to His Majesty's Government, and suggest that the Board's frequent despatches may be noted, and that the two countries should appoint officers to hold a joint delimitation, in order that the question may be settled at an early date,

I have further the honour to request that His Majesty's consul may be instructed not to interfere.

Awaiting the favour of a reply, I avail, &c.

Prince CHING.

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

C O 2/913

AFFAIRS OF CHINA.

CONFIDENTIAL.

(25781]

(No. 37.)

No. 1.

Sir E. Goschen to Sir Edward Grey,-(Received July 17.)

(Telegraphic.) P.

GERMAN military mission to China.

.D

[July 171

SECTION 1.

SEP 10

Berlin, July 17, 1910.

I learu from a fairly reliable source that arrangements were made with the German Government for the dispatch of a military mission to give instruction to the Chinese army by Yin Chang, formerly Chinese Minister here and at present Minister for War, before he left his post in Berlin.

[2827 r-1]

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