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they say that the country west of the Yeh Jen Shan belongs to them, they make the frontier veer round to the east. Some years ago British troops occupied Myitkyina for a time, and from there they wandered over the neighbouring country, but they did not dare to cross the Hsiao Chiang, which is in Chinese territory. I mention the Hsiao Chiang, because it was formerly decided on with the British Minister as a temporary boundary. At present China has some very strong arguments in favour of her claims: (1) The natives on the boundary of Yunnan have long been in the habit of bringing tribute to China and obeying her orders, while British subjects in hiring land in that district have paid the customary dues and given compensation. This custom is of such long standing as to constitute a recognition of China's sovereign rights over the district. Then how can it be said to belong to England? (2.) The heads of the native clans in the villages in the jurisdiction of Piena and the district of Tso and Yang have certain evidence of Chinese sovereignty in a despatch addressed to them by the Board of War in the reign of Ch'ien Lung, and so the British troops have absolutely no right to administer that portion of the country. But Great Britain regards the Kao Li Kung Shan as a key to Thibet, and so for some time has been casting longing eyes in that direction. Her ambitious designs do not stop at Yunnan, they extend to Szechuan and Thibet. We hear that the Viceroy of Yunnan has asked the Wai-wu Pu to decide whether there is to be peace or war, but the board are extremely auxious not to take the lead in any forcible measures, and so the case has been referred to the Chinese Minister resident in England for negotiation with the British Government. The essential point is that the British troops should be withdrawn before negotiations are allowed to proceed, but this may not be found practicable.
(Translation.)
Enclosure 2 in No. 1.
Extract from the “Peking Daily News," February 24, 1911.
BRITISH AGGRESSION IN YÜNNAN.
IT is understood the Viceroy of Yunnan has sent a circular telegram to the Viceroys and Governors of the different provinces, imploring them to adopt a mutual protection policy for the sake of maintaining the territorial integrity of the Chinese frontiers. The telegram has particular reference to the occupation of Pienma by the British troops. The following is a free translation of the telegram as published in yesterday's "Peking Jih Pao" and "Shuntien Shib Pao":---
The boundary between Yünnan and Burmalı is, indeed, the boundary between the Chinese and the British Empires. The ambition of the British Indian Government has been to maintain communications between India, Burmah, and Thibet. The effect would, therefore, not only have to do with the Yünnan frontier, but with the territorial possessions of the Empire as well.
Previously, the Yunnan--Burmah Boundary Delimitation Committee only went as far as Teng Yueh and Yung Chang, and the business of the commission was inter- rupted owing to disagreement between the commissioners of the two Governments. The Britishers contended that the boundary should be the purple line, from the Kao Li Kung Shan, along the Hsueh Shan to as far as Thibet. They have been so persistent in their pretension that the question has not been settled for the last several
years.
On account of the ill-feeling that has been harboured by the Britishers over the question of the Tengyueh-Burniah line, the Viceroy of Yunnan was able last autumu to discover that the British Indian Government had the intention of occupying Pienma, so as to hold a commanding position over Li-Wei and so as to settle the boundary dispute by armed forces. The Viceroy had therefore telegraphed to the Wai-wu Pu this intelligence, requesting the Ministry to negotiate with the British Minister. The Wai-wu Pu consequently sent a note to the British representative with regard to this matter, but owing to clever misrepresentation of the latter the question was more than shelved.
It has always been the intention of the Viceroy of Yunnan to dispatch troops to occupy Pienma, but as he has been bound by treaty not to send any soldiers across the other side of the mountain, and as Pienma, a territory subject for generations to the jurisdiction of China, is, however, on the other side of the mountain, he had not
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carried out his original intention for fear that he might involve the country in serious international difficulty. He was only left with the alternative of telegraphing the Foreign Office to stop the Indian Government from sending troops on the one hand, and to send delegates for the delimitation of the boundary on the other. The British Government again ignored our representation.
In the middle part of last month the Indian Government sent soldiers to occupy Pienma, and to construct forts there. They also expelled the Chinese teachers, and levied requisition upon the inhabitants. The vanguard of the British troops consisted of some 2,000 men. They also occupied the regions in and about Lang-Su, an act unequalled in its arbitrariness. The Yunnan Viceroy repeatedly asked Imperial sanction to send soldiers for the maintenance of our frontier defence, and had also requested the Foreign Office to remonstrate against the British occupation of our territory, and to demand the withdrawal of these troops before negotiations should be commenced for the settlement of this boundary question. Imperial edicts have been received commanding not to resort to force, and the Wai-wu Pu had also informed him that Minister Lew had been instructed to directly negotiate with the British Govern- ment in order to secure the settlement of the fundamental principles before boundary commissioners should be sent to settle the boundary line on the spot.
Recently the Wai-wu Pu sent a note to the British Minister in Peking on the same subject, but the note was once more ignored by him. To remonstrate after the British soldiers had occupied our territory had been too late, and not to demand the withdrawal of the British soldiers now before we discuss the boundary question would be a disgrace to the national dignity, and would not, it is feared, tend to any satisfactory result.
The Yunnan Viceroy has once more, on the 25th January, memorialised the Throne, recommending frontier defence should be thoroughly organised as a last resort for the protection of the national territory, but he has received no reply. The country is generally weak, matters are very critical, and war, if it broke out, would not be confined to Yünnan. The Viceroy will therefore take the greatest care for the preservation of peace, but is also of opinion that we must also be prepared to meet any unforeseen contingency, and that he alone cannot take the responsibility of deciding. The duty of rulers of provinces being to guard the territory under their respective jurisdiction zealously, it would never do for them to acquiesce in the cession of his jurisdiction territory lightly, nor would it be expedient for them to countenance the encroachment of any foreign Power therein unresistingly. Especially where and when foreign ambitions are so extravagant, the interests of the whole country would be jeopardised by any yielding on the part of the Yunnan Viceroy, and it would certainly not be within his power to submit to any loss of his territory on his own responsibility.
It is the duty of the Government to consider the general interest of the whole country with a view to preserving its integrity; so it is the duty of a provincial governor to defend his territory until death should take him from his task. That his forces would not be strong enough for the said purpose is generally known to the world, and he is dependent upon the reinforcements to be supplied him by the Throne and the Ministries and Provinces. The Yunnan Viceroy is familiar with the patriotism of the Viceroys and Governors of the other provinces and with their enthusiasm in helping their colleagues who are in difficulty; he is hopeful that they will give him sound advice and render him assistance. "The loss of the lip maketh the teeth cold.”
And as Szechuan province stands to Yunnan in the same relationship, experienced advice from the Szechuan Viceroy is especially earnestly expected.-LI CHING-IISI,
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