[This Dogument is the Property of His Britannis Majesty.
346
0.
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
IRECT
[184783]
(No. 287.) Sir,
109
REGIJA. 18
No. 1.
[December 4.]
SECTION 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received December 4.)
Peking, November 2, 1915. I HAVE the honour to report that Mr. Ts'ao Julin, the Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, called yesterday afternoon and read to me a statement which the Chinese Government had prepared as their reply to the joint representation which my Japanese and Russian colleagues and myself made to the Foreign Minister on the 28th ultimo respecting the proposed change in the form of government.
Mr Ts'ao laid some stress on the categorical assurance which this document conveyed that the Chinese Government felt confident that the change would be aded by no untoward events, and he asked me in reporting the matter to you to draw special attention to this point. He added that the only troubles to be apprehended were external ones which the Chinese Government were not in a position to control, and he expressed a hope that other Governments in whose territories malcontent Chinese citizens had found a refuge, would co-operate with China in her efforts to minimize any risks which the change might involve. He took an opportunity at the same time of expressing his appreciation of the attitude which the British colonial authorities had observed in recent years towards political refugees from China.
Mr. Ts'ao was not authorised to furnish me with a copy of the statement, but I have since procured one unofficially from the Wai-chiao Pa, and have the honour to enclose it herewith.
In answer to an enquiry on my part the Vice-Minister informed me that the document would be communicated to you through the Chinese Minister in London, and as explained in my telegram No. 277, I considered it unnecessary in the circumstances to telegraph its contents to you.
I have, &c.
J. N. JORDAN.
Enclosure in No. 1.
Chinese Reply to Joint Representatives.
ON the 28th October your Excellency, together with the Japanese Chargé d'Affaires and the Russian Minister, called at the Wai-chiao Pu, and the Japanese Chargé d'Affaires verbally communicated the advice of the Japanese Government. Your Excellency, acting upon the instructions of the British Government, associated yourself with it, and also asked whether the Chinese Government was confident that the change in the form of government could be carried out without untoward events. I have duly taken note of this. I reply to your Excellency in the same sense in which I have replied to the Japanese Chargé d'Affaires. The reply is as follows:-
"On the 28th October you, M. le Chargé d'Affaires, verbally communicated an advice of the Japanese Government. I have duly taken note of it. The matter is one which is entirely China's internal affair. But as the Japanese Government has been good enough to offer the friendly advice, I now reply fully and in detail as follows:--
"With regard to the question of the monarchy, there has been for some time a body of opinion in favour of it. The Government, intent on maintaining the present form of government, has always opposed it. Of late, however, the number of people in favour of it has daily increased, numbering among them many meg of power and influence in the country, the undercurrent has become stronger and stronger, and the combinations have become more and more numerous, If the Government were to use solely methods of forcible suppression, not only
[2521 -1]
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.