6 Anglo-Chinese Diplomacy I9o6-1920 British policy towards China and Jordan's career before 19o6 Furthermore,the prime minister,Arthur James Balfour,was convinced Barrington as private secretary to the foreign secretary,suggested Jordan by long experience that it was 'very difficult to get a point into to Grey on the strength of Morrison's recommendation. [MacDonald's]head'.21 Meanwhile,the situation in Korea favoured Jordan's appointment to Lansdowne shared these views about MacDonald and agreed that China.On 14 September 1go5 Jordan telegraphed the Foreign Office for 'it would be better to appoint someone else to the new Embassy', permission to take leave of absence from Korea in about the middle of providing that 'it could be arranged that [MacDonald]should be November and the request was readily granted.It was well known that withdrawn under conditions which he could not complain'.Lans- Jordan's leave was long overdue,pending the peace settlement between downe's rationale was that while MacDonald had not performed his Japan and Russia.The Foreign Office's concern was to find someone duties with 'conspicuous ability',at the same time he had not made any to act in his place because the last charge d'affaires had been a failure.27 'serious mistakes'during a period of great stress.22 Apparently the Jordan was asked his opinion,and suggested Henry Cockburn,Chinese 'conditions'for the removal of MacDonald as prescribed by Lansdowne secretary to the British legation at Peking then on leave in England.28 did not arise,and MacDonald had to be promoted as ambassador.At Cockburn was to regret his acceptance of the acting appointment shortly first the appointment was offered only on a temporary basis which after he had assumed duties when Britain made an agreement with Japan greatly upset MacDonald who felt that the Foreign Office had done him to withdraw her legation from Seoul,leaving behind a consulate- grave injustice.23 general.29 This also meant that Jordan was suddenly without a post.The At this stage of MacDonald's fortunes-when his promotion was Far Eastern Department did not wish him to be reduced from minister confirmed-Satow,the British minister in Peking,became involved. and consul-general to only consul-general at Seoul.30 Some of Satow's friends were indignant that he was not given the Tokyo With the return of spring,the Foreign Office could no longer postpone post for which they thought he was most qualified.34 In fact,Satow had their decision about the Peking post,especially as at that time China was been the minister to Japan before MacDonald,who first took up the a considerable cause of anxiety.The boycott of American goods was position late in 1goo.Later,back in London,Sir Edward Grey himself followed by the murders of missionaries at Nanchang.Other disturbing told Satow that had it been at all possible he would have been offered events occurred:continuous Chinese agitation for the return of railway the ambassadorship.Well-intentioned as they were,these words only and mining rights;virulent anti-foreign utterances in the Chinese press; intensified the pangs of unfulfilled hopes.35 and inflammatory speeches against foreigners at public meetings. As Satow's departure from Peking drew near,the Foreign Office had On 3 March 1go6 Grey telegraphed Satow that if his decision to to decide on appointing his successor.Also keenly interested in the retire that year was final,arrangements had to be made 'under present matter was Morrison of The Times,who was thoroughly disgusted with anxious circumstances in China'for someone to succeed him as soon as Satow's weakness and was firmly convinced that Jordan,rather than he left.Grey told Satow that Jordan had been considered as the 'a European diplomat ignorant of the very rudiments of the China 'eventual successor',but nothing as yet had been mentioned to him.31 question',would be the most suitable choice.This idea had been with Grey's suggestion that the new minister should take charge immediately him at least as early as late 1go3.On returning to London in the autumn after Satow's departure was rather unprecedented.Satow's tenure as of Igo5,one of Morrison's objectives was to secure Jordan's appointment minister would only terminate in October,until when he would receive to Peking.He wrote to Jordan in Korea of his intention and was heartily the minister's pay except one quarter of it which would be paid to the thanked.By the time he set out for China again,Morrison strongly charge d'affaires who was normally the next senior man in the legation. believed that he had convinced Lansdowne,William G.Tyrrell,assistant Thus the British government would incur much greater expenses if the head in the Far Eastern Department,and Louis Mallet,then precis- new minister assumed duty before Satow's term officially expired. writer to Lansdowne,of Jordan's 'incomparable qualities'for the Apart from confirming his intention to leave Peking that year,Satow ministerial post.26 However,Lansdowne left the Foreign Office before the in his reply raised some of his personal views with Grey.He believed year ended and Jordan's appointment was made by Grey early in 1go6. that the China situation was 'difficult'rather than 'anxious'and con- It is quite possible that either Lansdowne or Mallet,who succeeded sidered that Lancelot D.Carnegie,legation secretary,and Charles W