CO129-417 - Public Offices - 1914 — Page 306

Peking.

44223

August 28,

No. 314.

RECO

1 confidential.

REG 11 NOV 14

Bir,

66126 300

19140V 1912

Pon No. 33. R 18, 1914.

Since the outbreak of war in Europe

the status of the foreign Concessions at the

Treaty Ports in China bas on several occasions

given rise to delicate questions. The American

Chargé d'Affaires acting at the instance of his

German Colleague, auggested at one time that all

the Concessions should be declared neutral ground

by the Diplomatiɑ Body, but finding that the idea

did not command itself to myself and several of

his other Colleagues, Hr. Madurray abandåned his

intention of making any formal proposal on the

subject.

Since then there have been persistent

but, I believe, quite unfounded rumours that the

Japanese intended to occupy the Genman Concession

The Right Honourable

Sir Edward Grey, Bart., K.G., M.P.,

at

etc.

ate.

etc.