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be content on this point to defer to the views of Sir J. Jordan, whose communication to the Wai-wu Pu, as reported in his despatch No. 85, dated the 24th February, 1911, has his Lordship's entire approval. In any case, Lord Morley would suggest that, before proceeding to offer to the Chinese Government the alternative frontier indicated in the Viceroy's telegram of the 26th March, Sir J. Jordan should refer the matter to His Majesty's Government for further instructions.
As regards the Chinese request for the withdrawal of our troops, it will be seen from the Viceroy's telegrams of the 19th and 29th March, 1911, that it is impracticable, for climatic reasons, for Mr. Hertz's party to remain at Htawgaw later than the middle of April.
In the circumstances, it seems very undesirable that the news of the retirement of the party should reach the Chinese Government in a form that can lead them to interpret it as a disposition on our part to comply with their demands, since this would inevitably make them more difficult to deal with. I am therefore to suggest that they should be informed that His Majesty's Government reserve to themselves entire freedom to move their officers into and out of the country at their discretion. The draft of a telegram which Lord Morley proposes to address to the Government of India is enclosed herewith, for Sir E. Grey's concurrence.*
As regards the suggestion of the Chinese Government that the question should, as a last resort, be referred to arbitration, Lord Morley is not in a position to offer any opinion as to the precedents quoted in the final paragraph of Sir J. Jordan's telegram of the 13th March. But he would strongly deprecate the proposal on general grounds, both as undesirable in itself and as impracticable, regard being had to the nature of the evidence on which the respective claims are based.
I am, &c.
(Telegraphic.) P.
R. RITCHIE.
Enclosure 1 in No. 1.
Government of India to Viscount Morley.
March 16, 1911. Government regarding
FOLLOWING telegram received from Burmah Hpimaw ----
"We are submitting by this mail to Government of India full report by Mr. Hertz as to Chinese claims in unadministered territory and as to terms on which negotiations for froutier line might be conducted. Mr. Hertz proposes that rights of Chinese in Gawlam, Kangfang, and Hpimaw groups of villages should be purchased, or that tract of country in which these villages are situated should be leased from China. He suggests as a third alternative that watershed boundary should be so modified as to leave these villages to China. Modified line proposed by Hertz follows a high range of mountains (through which the River Ngawchang flows in a narrow defile) from the point where it diverges from the main watershed to the point where it again merges in the main watershed, north of Kangfang. If arrangements cannot be made to lease the tract, this modified line would, in lieutenant-governor's opinion, be a suitable boundary. Hertz's report makes it clear that, apart from above-mentioned groups of villages, Chinese have no claim to any areas west of watershed."
On receipt of Hertz's report we will furnish our views on Burmah Government's telegram, as well as upon telegram dated the 13th instant from His Majesty's Minister at Pcking.
(Telegraphic.)
P.
Enclosure 2 in No. 1.
Government of India to Viscount Morley.
March 19, 1911.
HPIMAW expedition: See my telegram dated the 16th instant. Telegram from Government of Burmah states that it is advisable that Hertz's party should leave Htawgaw not later than the 10th proximo, and that it is impossible for them, owing to weather conditions, to stay there after the 20th idem at the latest. Lieutenant-Governor considers that Hertz and military police should return early in
* Printed in [12691].
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April to Nangu, and that wing of 89th Punjabis, who are road-making between Chiglai and Htawgaw, should withdraw to the same place at end of present month.
I propose in the circumstances to authorise carrying out of movements.
Enclosure 3 in No. 1.
Viscount Morley to Government of India,
(Telegraphic.) P.
India Office, March 21, 1911. PLEASE refer to your telegram dated 19th instant as to Hpimaw expedition. I propose to await views as to boundary question, promised in your telegram dated 16th instant, before considering question of future movements of Hertz. He should remain at Htawgaw in the meantime.
Enclosure 4 in No. 1.
Government of India to Viscount Morley.
(Telegraphic.) P.
March 26, 1911. PLEASE refer to my telegram dated the 16th instant. It appears from report by Mr. Hertz to hand that, apart from Hpimaw, Gawlam, and Kangfang groups, Chinese have no claim to villages west of watershed; and definite and final repudiation of contention of Chinese should, in opinion of Lieutenant-Governor of Burmah, now be made. Hertz states, with regard to Gawlam, Hpimaw, and other villages on upper waters of Ngawchang River, that Chief of Lungpang at one time exercised authority over these villages, but that villagers have for many years paid tribute to Chief of Tengkeng, since the time when they invoked the latter's assistance as result of quarrel with Lungpang. Villagers have also adopted habits and customs of Chinese to some extent. Lieutenant-Governor is disposed to accept view of Mr. Hertz that we should accept claim of Chinese to these villages. Monetary compensation for surrender of their rights in tract is not likely, his Ilononr understands from Peking telegram dated the 14th ultimo, to be agreed to by Chinese Government. Advantage of a lease, he points out, would be that measures already taken towards administration of tract would not have to be rescinded, and that the main watershed could be followed as the boundary line throughout. Lieutenant-Governor suggests, however, that modified boundary suggested by Hertz, excluding villages under discussion from our side, should be accepted without hesitation, if the Chinese do not agree to a lease. Following is modified boundary proposed :---
The frontier will follow crest of watershed range between the Taping and Shweli (Lu Chiang) Rivers with their tributaries, to the south, and the N'Maikha River, with its tributaries, to the north, from Manang Bum in latitude 25° 33′ north until it reaches peak marked Hsi Chiang Ho Shan 12,000 feet on the Survey of Iudia map, east of the village of Upper Hpare, and near the sources of the Mangshang Kha; from this point it will run northward to another peak, by name Sanhko Bum, 12,800 feet, east of Lagwi (Tzu Chu) village and on range of mountains which separates drainages of Changzaw and [], which flow northwards from the Feng Shui Ling pass and join Htangjam (IIpimaw) stream near Hpimaw villages, from those of the Shing Tawn and Mangshang (Lagwi or Tzu Chu) streams, the former of which falls into river Ngawchang at village of Gawyawm (Shang Lon); from this second peak the boundary will run northward, crossing the river Ngawchang at gorge between junction of Hiangjam (Hpimaw) and Ngawchang (Hsiao Chiang) streams and village of Chikgaw (Chi-ka), along range which separates the drainage of the Hpienlaw Kha on the west from that of river Ngawehang and its tributaries on the east, leaving Hpienlaw village also to the west, and bearing west by north of Kangfang village, to a high peak called Chiyen Bum (13,600 feet); thence northwards along watershed dividing streams flowing westwards into country of Mars from those flowing eastwards into the Ngawchang River; thence along range above the Yawyen village of Wulaw (Lao-wu-lu) forming northern watershed of river Ngawchang, and eastward by Wulaw pass until, at about latitude 26° 18', the great divide between the Salween and Irrawaddy is reached. It is suggested by Hertz that His Majesty's Government should move the Chinese Government to agree to the main watershed as boundary beyond this point as
[1918 hh-3]
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