CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911 — Page 87

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

AFFAIRS OF CHINA.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[6077]

No. 1.

my

[February 18346

325 PR ||

SECTION

India Office to Foreign Office.-(Received February 18.)

THE Under-Secretary of State for India presents his compliments to the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and, by direction of the Earl of Crewe, forwards herewith, for the information of the Secretary of State, copy of a telegram to Viceroy, dated the 16th February, and of a telegram from Viceroy, dated the 17th February, relative to Hpimaw.

India Office, February 18, 1911,

May

Enclosure 1 in No. 1.

The Earl of Crewe to Government of India.

(Telegraphic,) P.

India Office, February 16, 1911. EXPEDITION to Hpimaw (see your telegram of yesterday's date). Telegraphic instructions are being sent to-day to His Majesty's Minister, Peking, to the following effect:-

"See your telegram of to-day's date. You may inform the Wai-wu Pu of our readiness to open negotiations with a view to basis of joint delimitation being settled. It is conceivable, in view of surprising uncertainty of movements of Chinese troops, that Hpimaw might be reoccupied by same Chinese force either simultaneously with, or prior to, Hertz's arrival there. The latter's return to Hpimaw is therefore undesirable, but instructions not to move further from his present position, which is fairly in reach of Hpimaw, will be given to him."

Hertz should be given instructions to the above effect.

Reference is invited to telegram of the 14th instant from His Majesty's Minister at Peking. I should be glad if any suggestions you may have to offer as to reply to Chinese Government could be communicated by telegraph. Please say whether you have sufficient information on which proposals could be based for territorial compensation further north, by which conditions postulated in your telegram of the 15th instant as to a compromise in Hpimaw region would be fulfilled, namely, being easily recognisable by population on both sides, and not presenting opening for future discussion. We might also try compromise on section between Namting River and Nalaut (see despatch of the 6th December, 1907, from my predecessor).

Enclosure 2 in No. 1.

Government of India to the Earl of Crewe.

February 17, 1911.

(Telegraphic.) P.

HPIMAW expedition (see my telegram dated the 10th instant). Telegram from Burmah Government states that lieutenant-governor finds it impossible at present to make any accurate estimate of cost of track from Seniku to Wanghte and Htawgaw, as detailed road survey has not yet been made. Cost, however, will not, it is conjectured, be less than 3,30,000 rupees, including ferry and bridges. Only rough mule track, which Burmah company of sappers, with the assistance of imported labour, cau construct before the rains, is required for immediate

[1909 --3].