No. 82.
SIR,
6
(Governor to Secretary of State.)
GOVERNMENT HOUSE, HONGKONG, 1st April, 1899.
I have this moment a quarter of an hour before the starting of the mail received a report that the party, sent by the Public Works Department to erect the posts on the boundaries settled upon by the Chinese Commissioners and Mr. STEWART LOCKHART, were stopped by the people who informed the party that if they attempted to erect a post they would kill them. The party returned. At the same time I received from Mr. WEI YUK, a member of the Legislative Council, a copy of a placard that has been posted in the district to be taken over, the translation of which I enclose. *
2. It is of the utmost importance that this movement shall be nipped in the bud. I have determined to proceed to Canton to-day to see the Viceroy and induce him to send troops forthwith to secure and punish the ringleaders and to protect the parties sent in to erect the posts. If this be not done there may be serious trouble. Should I not be successful in having it done, I shall probably proceed to take over possession without delay.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient,
The Right Honourable
JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P.
humble Servant,
HENRY A. BLAKE,
Governor.
ENCLOSURE No. 1.
Translation.
We hate the English barbarians who are about to enter our boundaries and take our land, and will cause us endless evil. Day and night we fear the approach- ing danger. Certainly people are dissatisfied at this and have determined to resist the barbarians. If our fire-arms are not good, we shall be unable to oppose the enemy.
So we have appointed an exercise-ground and gathered all together as patriots to drill with fire-arms. To encourage proficiency rewards will be given. On the one hand we shall be helping the Governnient; on the other we shall be saving ourselves from future trouble. Let all our friends and relatives bring their fire-arms to the ground and do what they can to extirpate the traitors. Our ancestors will be pleased, and so will our neighbours. This is our sincere wish. Practice takes place every day.
First prize:-One gauze coat. A packet of 1,000 crackers,
Second prize:-One pair of brown gauze trousers. A packet of 500
crackers.
Third prize:-One straw hat.
17th Day 2nd Moon. 25th Year of Kwong-sui (28th March, 1899).
A placard issued by the Yuk-un Hin ("Wish for Peace" library) of Ping- shán.
Translated by A. W. BREWIN.
(Telegram to Secretary of State.)
3rd April, 1899.
Yesterday I interviewed the Viceroy at Canton. He promised, after some demur, to send soldiers to protect the Chinese building the Police matsheds and to keep order in the district. I told him that, provided this was done, I would not take over till the 17th, but that after our occupation the Chinese Customs cannot function. I told him I am preventing the export of arms into China.
BLAKE.
* Enclosure No. 1.