CO129-373 - Public Offices - 1910 — Page 72

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

71

AFFAIRS OF CHINA,

CONFIDENTIAL,

[31884]

No. 1,

C O

20647

[September 1.],

SECTION 1,

16 SEP 10,

(No. 278.) Sir,

Mr. Max Müller to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received September 1.)

Peking, August 16, 1910.

I HAVE the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a note which I have addressed to the Chinese Government in accordance with the instructions contained in your despatch No. 247 of the 20th July, warning them that His Majesty's Government cannot in any circumstances allow the accuracy of the boundary cairns erected on the Burmah-China frontier, which has remained undisputed for ten years, to be now called in question.

I have sent copies of this despatch and enclosures to the Viceroy of India and the Lieutenant-Governor of Burmah.

I have, &c. (In the absence of His Majesty's chargé d'affaires),

E. SCOTT.

Enclosure in No. 1.

Your Highness,

Mr. Max Müller to Prince Ch'ing.

Peking, August 12, 1910. IT will be within the recollection of the Chinese Government that in 1899 Brigadier-General Liu Tajên and Mr. J. G. Scott, the Chinese and British Commis- sioners for the delimitation of the Burmah-Yunnau boundary, reported that, in conformity with their instructions, they had demarcated the middle section of that frontier from the junction of the Nanipuang stream with the Taping River to the junction of the Nam Hpà with the Nam Ting. The report, which was signed and scaled by the two commissioners, stated that the line throughout was laid in conformity with the agreement between China and Great Britain signed at Peking on the 4th February, 1897. There followed a description of the boundary, together with a list of the cairns erected by the commissioners, numbering ninety-seven in all. In 1900 an officer of the Burmalı Government was employed to erect permanent boundary cairus in place of the temporary cairns erected by the Boundary Commission.

--

In January of this year the cairns were inspected by the deputy commissioner of the Bhamo district, the British consul at Tengyueh, and the prefect of Yung-Chang. These officers found that cairns Nos. 9 to 14 were correctly placed, but the prefect has since disputed the result of this inspection. In a subsequent note to the consul, he alleged that cairns Nos. 20, 22, 25, 26, and 29 were all incorrectly placed, and that he was not in a position at present to express any opinion regarding the positions of cairns Nos. 30 to 96, as he had not yet had an opportunity of examining them.

In bringing this matter to the notice of your Highness's Government, I am instructed to inform you that His Majesty's Government can in no circumstances allow the accuracy of these cairns, which has been unchallenged for ten years, to be now called in question.

I have the honour to request that your Highness will be so good as to duly notify the local authorities in Yunnan to that effect.

I avail, &c.

(In the absence of His Majesty's chargé d'affaires),

[2893 a-1]

E. SCOTT.