§ MR. DRAGE (Derby)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether the southern section of the Commission for delimiting the Burmo-Chinese frontier has dispersed; whether any work was done by the section; and whether he can state what action Her Majesty's Government propose to take in the matter, in view of the constant disturbances among the Kachin tribes on the frontier?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIAThe Joint Commission for the delimitation of the Burmo-Chinese frontier, in accordance with the agreement of 1897, commenced work in December last. Upon arrival at Lwalien, in the second section south of the Taping river, a discrepancy between the Chinese and English versions of the agreement led to a difference of opinion between General Liu, the Chinese Commissioner, and Mr. Thirkell Whites which involved references to Pekin, and finally resulted in a postponement of the work for another season. Much valuable information was collected by the Commission. The Chinese Government has been informed that the line will provisionally be regarded as that laid down in the British version of the agreement of 1897, and the map attached to it. Some local opposition on the part of the Kachins was met and overcome, and on March 25th I authorised the Government of India to take any steps considered expedient for the maintenance of their authority within the line of the agreement.