CO129-416 - Public Offices - 1914 — Page 228

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In addition to communicating with the Minister of each Power, we have the honour to address this to your Excellency in your capacity as dean of the Diplomatic Corps.

We have, &c.

(Ministers of the Wai-chino Pu.)

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Enclosure 2 in No. 28.

Memorandum communicated to Wai-chiao Pu.

THE Wai-chiao Pu's letter of the 30th ultimo, on the subject of the method to be adopted in remitting in sterling to the various Governments the sums available for proportional payment of overdue instalments of the 1901 indemnity, has been duly considered by the Diplomatic Body.

The foreign representatives had already been informed by the International Bankers' Commission of the proposal made in consultation with the Commissioner of Customs that exchange for remittance of indemnity payments should be fixed weekly at the rate of one month's instalment per week, and the dean was directed to inform the commission that the Diplomatic Body have no objection in practice to the proposed arrangement, provided it is understood that it is not to be regarded as a precedent, and that the compound interest at 4 per cent. is paid on the instalments until date of transfer. A telegram in this sense was dispatched to Shanghai on the 3rd instant, and the dean has now the honour to inform the Wai-chiao Pu accordingly.

Peking, February 6, 1913.

[9275]

No. 29.

Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey. (Received February 27.)

(No. 71.) Sir,

Peking, February 11, 1913. I HAVE the honour to enclose a summary of six Presidential orders which appeared in the "Government Gazette" of the 9th January last.

I have the honour to draw your attention to the substitution of Foreign Affairs delegates for Taotais as the officers responsible for the transaction of business with His Majesty's consuls.

I would point out that, while the Taotai was an official having control over the government of the territory within his jurisdiction, the newly appointed Foreign Affairs delegates hold no such responsible position. The main purpose which, I believe, their appointment will serve is that of a buffer between foreign consuls and the local authorities, relieving the latter from pressure of discussion with the former and rendering more difficult the obtaining of satisfaction for wrongs done to foreign subjects. Article 7 of the Treaty of Tien-tsin, 1858, provides that consuls and vice-consuls rank with intendants of circuit and prefects respectively, and entitles the former to have access to the official residences of the latter and communicate with them on a footing of equality, The object of this provision was to ensure that opportunity should be obtained for the discussion of matters affecting British interests with officials directly concerned in the administration of the regions in which they were stationed. I would add that the appointment of Foreign Affairs delegates is in violation of this treaty provision.

I have, &c.

J. N. JORDAN.