29
not have come down as they did in considerable numbers, without the knowledge of the Viceroy's officials at Sham Chun, where they had to cross the river by a ferry. Nor could the warlike preparations have been made without the knowledge and connivance of the 600 troops which the Viceroy acknowledges that he placed in the leased area "to preserve order." The emplacement for guns and the entrenchments at Tái pó Hii were never made by peasants without some direction from a person having inilitary training of some sort.
21. Two of the letters found in the meeting-house mention Major FoxG, who was one of the Viceroy's officers, in charge of the Forces for the "preservation of order." One letter would appear to show that the Viceroy wished to warn the people, but the other contains the significant hint that Major FONG "will not in any way use force but will freely allow all the villages to carry out their own settled plans."
22. During the entire proceedings I have been careful to treat the Viceroy and his authorities with a scrupulous regard for international obligations. The result has shown an utter disregard of the responsibility assumed by the Viceroy of Canton, and a serious loss of life; for it is idle to ignore the fact that the assail- ants have suffered serious losses in their four days' hopeless contest against disci- plined Forces. Nor can I look upon such needless loss of life with equanimity. The statements of NG KI CHUNG and TANG KOK LAM and the letters found in the meeting-house show that those people possess some of the qualities that make good subjects, and, foolish as their opposition may have been, with exception of the murder of CHEUNG TSOI after the fight at Kam Tin, their action displayed no moral turpitude. With Her Majesty's Government rests the decision whether any, or what notice, shall be taken of violated promises involving grave loss of life, serious expense, and inevitable feelings of acerbity on the part of the people of the New Territory, with whom it was iny most earnest desire to establish relations of friend- ship and confidence from the moment of my assumption of the Government.
23. I attach the documents mentioned in the enclosed list relating to the subject of this despatch.
24. I venture to hope that you will convey to the Naval and Military Authorities my warm acknowledgments of the cordial co-operation of Major- General GASCOIGNE and Commodore PowELL but for whose instant and effective action matters might have been much more serious. Lieutenant-Colonel THE O'GORMAN, Deputy Assistant Adjutant General, Captain LoxG, Deputy Assistant Adjutant General, and Captain BERGER have had arduous duties which have been cheerfully and readily performed; and Lieutenant GOODENOUGH, R.N., Lieutenant KEYES, R.N., and Lieutenant KELLY, R.N., have performed the duties entrusted to them with conspicuous zeal. The active and judicious assistance of the Fame on the evening of the 15th bore a large share in the repulse of the attacking Chinese. I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient,
humble Servant,
HENRY A. BLAKE, Governor, &c.
The Right Honourable
JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M P.,
&c.,
&c.,
fc.
LIST ABOVE REFERRED TO.
Colonial Secretary's Minute, 16th April, 1899.
Colonial Secretary's Minute, 20th April, 1899.
16th
20th
>>
}"
77
17th
21st
17
"?
"}
21
17th
23rd
17
17
73
17th
24th
>>
姿势
27
J
18th
25th
"}
**
27
"
18th
26th
"
""
#
18th
"}
18th
11
++
19th
"}
}}
Messages (6) 17th to 20th April, 1899.
Governor's Minute.
Instructions 21st April, 1899.
19th
"