'Volume II. MEMORANDA REGARDING OTHER EXTERNAL AFFAIRS. 1905.' [‎78v] (161/228)

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but of ascertaining the actual position of the
watershed The boundary between adjacent drainage basins. , and pointing ^ it out on the spot to
the Chinese Representative. They were also to
endeavour to demonstrate to Chinese officials
that Chinese headmen exercise no authority
whatever on the western side of the watershed The boundary between adjacent drainage basins. ;
they were to reassure the Chinese officials as
to the nature of our demands, to convince
them of the accuracy of our conclusions, and to
persuade them to acquiesce in our geographical
definition of the sphere of influence of the two
Governments.
Mr. Litton was also authorised, if the
local Chinese headmen could establish any
claims to petty dues of presents from any of
the small frontier villages on the British side
of the border, to offer to extinguish them by
small money payments.
The British demand has hitherto been
to the effect that northwards from latitude
25° 35' the watershed The boundary between adjacent drainage basins. of all streams that
drain into the ISf’maikha from the east is
the most satisfactory and most recognisable
boundary that can he found. Previous to
the present expedition, the boundary had
been explored by Mr. Hertz, who, though he
did not actually reach the Salween watershed The boundary between adjacent drainage basins. ,
yet got quite far enough to prove definitely
that the eastern watershed The boundary between adjacent drainage basins. of the N’maikha
River does connect with the western water
shed of the Salween. Mr. Litton, in the recent
expedition, proceeded as far north as latitude 26°
15', and he confirmed the conclusions arrived
at by Mr. Hertz that the N’maikha watershed The boundary between adjacent drainage basins.
is, in general, the most suitable boundary line
to adopt. Mr. Litton therefore recommended
in the reports on the results of his journey,
which have recently been submitted to the
Government of India, that the Chinese Gov
ernment should again be pressed to accept as
the frontier between Burma and China from
the demarcated border nothwards the watershed The boundary between adjacent drainage basins.
of the streams which drain into the N’maikha
River from the east.
Secondly, he recommended that some
shadowy claims advanced by the Chinese,
with reference to villages on the Burma side of
the frontier, should be extinguished for a pay
ment of Rs. 1,000 per annum, or a few
hundreds more, to the headmen of the Chinese
villages which assert jurisdictional rights.
Thirdly, he recommended that, although
his exploration did not extend further
north than latitude 26° 15', yet, in view
of our present knowledge of the geo
graphy of the country, the British Govern
ment should press for a recognition of the
Salween-Irrawaddy divide as far north at least
as latitude 28°, or alternatively as far north as
the confines of Tibet. He suggested that, if
the Chinese were to raise any objection to