'Volume II. MEMORANDA REGARDING OTHER EXTERNAL AFFAIRS. 1905.' [‎64v] (133/228)

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Everything is reported quiet at Lhasa.
Nothing has been done by the Government to
molest traders or persons friendly to ourselves.
CHINA.
9. With reference to paragraph 13 of
the Memorandum for May 1903, regarding the
Burma-China Boundary Examination, the
Government of Burma reported that the iaotai,
who accompanied Mr. Litton along the f 1 ^ 11 *
tier, had received immediate orders of transfer
to Puerh. They considered this to be a device
to delay settlement of the boundary question,
as the new Taotai would be entirely ignorant
of the frontier, and would probably be furnish
ed with instructions to reopen the who e
question. The Government of India accord
ingly requested the Secretary of State by
telegraph to protest against the removal of
the Taotai. The telegram was repeated to
Sir E, Satow, who replied that he had already
received information from the British Consul
regarding the intended transfer of the Taotai,
and that he had in consequence remonstrated
with the Chinese Government, They inform
ed him that the frontier investigation was
finished, and that the report was being pre
pared. They also said that in any case Gie
Taotai would remain at Tengyueh some time
longer.
The Government of Burma tele
graphed again on the 23rd June, stating that
they had heard of no change in the orders
about the Taotai; that Shih was told in
January last that he would be retained in
Tengyueh for about a year, but that, on re
turning from the visit to the frontier, he re
ceived telegraphic orders to go to Puerh. Mr.
Jfitton has reported to the Government of
Burma that all concerned understand this to
be in consequence of Shill’s reasonable atti
tude. He thinks that the Chinese Govern
ment are certain to refer to Tengyueh for
further information; and that, after Shih’s
removal to Puerh, they wdll prolong the
enquiry and put forward arguments for
fresh local, investigation. He further states
that, even if Shih is retained at Tengyueh as
an extra officer, the new Taotai, being in
charge of the territory, will deal with the
frontier questions. The Government of Burma
accept Mr. Litton’s opinion, and suggest that
the Chinese Government should again be
pressed to allow Taotai Shih to retain charge of
Tengyueh till the settlement of the question,
on the ground that he alone is able to explain
actual circumstances. The Government of
Burma have been informed in reply that the
Government of India presume that either
Mr. Litton or Mr. Wilkinson is keeping the
Minister at Peking informed of all that occurs.
They have also been asked whether there is
any evidence of an intention on the part of the