4 Anglo-Chinese Diplomacy 19o6-1920 British policy towards China and fordan's career before 19o6 5 East Asia,though,as I.H.Nish suggests,the Anglo-Japanese Alliance Asia in late Igo5 and early Igo6 Jordan succeeded Sir Ernest Satow as of Igo2 already indicated that Britain could no longer shoulder 'the minister to China.Early in April 1go5 Lord Lansdowne,secretary for burden of maintaining the Pax Britannica'e alone in the area.Between foreign affairs,decreed that,barring special circumstances,every chef de IgII and the outbreak of war there was already 'growing disharmony' mission should automatically vacate his post after a five years'tenure.18 between Britain and Japan,arising from Britain's concern to maintain On receipt of the new regulation,Satow telegraphed Sir Eric Barrington, her position and Japan's growing ambitions in East Asia.?Serious private secretary to Lansdowne,to ascertain his status in Peking after conflict between the two allies did not occur until after August 1914. October,when he would have served out his five years in China.14 Japan was then able to exploit the power vacuum in the East while the Barrington,acting on his own initiative,replied in August that Lans- war in Europe steadily debilitated Britain.Britain's rapid decline as a downe hoped that Satow would remain at his post'for at least another power effected Japan's growing dominance in East Asia. year from September'.15 Britain's representative in China during this transitional and difficult Satow received the answer with mixed feelings.He had for some time period was Sir John Newell Jordan.8 Jordan was born on 5 September complained about the hot summer and the 'continuous dull monotonous 1852 at Balloo,Ireland.His friends attributed his deep sense of justice unpleasant work'in Peking.In addition,his conscience was troubled by and conscientiousness to his Irish origin and strict Presbyterian upbring- the way China had been 'most unjustly treated'by the powers,and he ing.His involvement with China began in 1876,when as a student felt that he should 'have no more share'in the matter.In fact,even before interpreter he joined the China consular service.Between 188I and 1886 Barrington's reply,Satow had expressed his hope to F.V.Dickens,his he occupied various consular posts in South China.In 1886 he was long standing correspondent outside the Foreign Office,that his Peking transferred to Peking where he at first discharged the duties of accoun- tenure would not be extended.16 tant to the legation.In 1889 he was promoted to the position of assistant On the other hand,Satow was both hurt and disappointed by Chinese secretary,and in I8oI he became full Chinese secretary,winning Barrington's reply,interpreting the phrase'at least another year from the approval and confidence of the British minister at Peking,N.R. September'to mean that 'more than that wfoulld not be expected'of O'Conor.By 1896 Jordan had enhanced his position as Chinese secretary him.In a telegraph to Barrington,Satow expressed willingness to in two other ways.He had gained an adequate knowledge of the Chinese remain at his post for another year,after which,for reasons of health, language,a unique qualification amongst the British ministers to China, he would rather leave Peking before the hot season began and 'not to as well as acquiring first-hand experience of Chinese politics and Sino- return to China'.17 The Foreign Office took Satow's response at face foreign diplomacy at the highest level.10 value and considered he had earned 'a rest after all the hard work and In 1896 Jordan was appointed consul-general at Seoul,capital of anxiety'.18 In his diary,however,Satow confessed that though he Korea and at that time the pivot of Russo-Japanese rivalry.In 1898 he would not himself ask for an extension,he would have agreed to remain became charge d'affaires and in Igor minister resident in Korea,while in Peking had Lansdowne offered him another five years'tenure,or retaining the position of consul-general at Seoul.Jordan left Korea late if later Sir Edward Grey had asked him to stay.19 in November rgo5.Not long after,Britain withdrew her diplomatic Meanwhile,Japan's ally status by virtue of the Anglo-Japanese mission,anticipating Japan's hold on Korean foreign policy,which was Alliance caused for the expansion of the British legation at Tokyo.The exercised in February 19o6.While Jordan might well have been'only a Foreign Office was confronted with the task of appointing the first distant observer of events in China'when he was in Seoul,u his Korean British ambassador to Japan.The British minister in Japan then was experience had a profound effect on his later service in China.Frequent Sir Claude MacDonald who was considered unsuitable for the ambas- references to Korea in Jordan's correspondence during World War I- sadorial post by the British government.Dr George Ernest Morrison, when China's sovereignty was severely threatened by Japan-show that the Times correspondent at Peking since 1897,who had great influence his mind was haunted by the spectre of Korea's humiliating occupation on the British East Asian policy,regarded MacDonald as'garrulous, by Japan.12 inaccurate,long-winded'.Sir Charles Hardinge,permanent foreign After a reshuffle of British diplomatic and consular personnel in East under-secretary,considered MacDonald ignorant and incapable.20