CO129-396 - Public Offices - 1912 — Page 414

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

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CONFIDENTIAL.

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Nog 13 DEC 12

410

[November 18.]

SECTION 1.

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(No. 431.) Sir,

Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received November 18.)

Peking, October 30, 1912. WITH reference to my despatch No. 396 of the 2nd instant, I have the honour to forward herewith copy of a despatch from His Majesty's consul-general at Shanghai, with its enclosures, containing a full report of Sir Everard Fraser's visit to Anking to investigate the circumstances of the seizure and burning of seven chests of Indian opium at that port.

I have already reported by telegraph the circumstances which prevented a settle- ment of this case being effected locally, and I have now the honour to enclose copy

of the memorandum which, under your telegraphic instructions, I have addressed to the Wai-chiao Pu, demanding compensation for the value of the opium destroyed and the publication throughout the province of Anhui of a proclamation explaining the opium agreement of 1911, in accordance with the terms of the Wai-wu Pu's telegram to the provinces of the 15th June of that year.

I have, &c.

J. N. JORDAN,

me

dia

Enclosure 1 in No. 1.

(No. 142) Sir,

Consul-General Sir E. Fraser to Sir J. Jordan.

Shanghai, October 12, 1912.

I HAVE the honour to report my proceedings on the mission to investigate the circumstances of the seizure and destruction of seven chests of Indian opium at Anking, which I was directed to undertake by your telegram No. 106 of the 30th September.

This report confirms and amplifies the telegrams and letters which were sent to you from time to time.

On the 1st October Captain Corbett informed me that he was directed by the commander-in-chief to put His Majesty's ship "Flora" at my disposal for my visit to Auking, and we agreed to set out at 1-30 P.M. on the 2nd instant."

I took with me Mr. P. Grant Jones, who has rendered me much valuable assistance.

After telegraphing to Mr. Pai, Tutu of Anhui, that I should call on him on the afternoon of the 5th October, on a case which you had instructed me to investigate in conjunction with him, we started at the appointed time,

In the hope of preventing any popular misconception of the nature of my visit, I authorised Mr. Phillips to inform the North China Daily News" of its purpose; but I regret that that paper, as well as others, native and foreign, persisted in ascribing to me the exercise of pressure and the presentation of demands for compensation and redress.

On our reaching Wuhu, Mr. Pearson handed me a telegram from Anking to the Shanghai consulate, declaring that Mr. Pai was on a visit to Nanking, and the date of his return uncertain.

He also gave me copies of telegrams exchanged with that tutu which, as the enclosed copies and translations show, proved that he ignored entirely the terms of China's agreements with Great Britain.

Surmising that Mr. Pai should have been ordered to return at once, I proceeded to Anking to find that he had, in fact, arrived on board a Chinese cruiser on the evening of the 4th October.

One of his secretaries met our boat at the landing and came off in her He stated that the seizure and burning of the opium were done by the direct orders of the tutu, who was prepared to explain and justify his action if I would call.

Accordingly, at 5 F.., I went with Captain Corbett, his first lieutenant, and Mr. Jones, to the tutu's yamên, where we were received by the head of his Foreign

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