Page
446
THE S.S. “FATSHAN" AFFAIR.
Our Canton correspondent writes :--- The Chinese insist that a fresh inquiry should take place at the British Consulate in this matter. This will no doubt be acceded to if the application is made officially, provided also that important new evidence is forthcoming. The Chinese Press say that according to international law the case should be tried by the British Court as the incident occurred on a British vessel. This however does not apply to China, as foreigners enjoy the privilege of extraterri- toriality in China.
The Yeong Shing Po" publishes an article to-day saying that public anger has been roused through the British Consul shifting his re- the sponsibility an to other shoulders in Fatshan incident. The paper further states that the members of the Yau Tin Ying theatrical | troupe have composed a song on the incident and have deputed many members of the troupe to sing it on board the passenger junks plying between Canton and inland waters (about 60 of these vessels leave Canton every day) and in the different villages up-country, and it is fur. ther stated that the members of the troupe are having grand receptions on board the junks and at the villages. Free passage tickets, tea cakes and wine are offered to the singers for their patriotic action and feelings wherever they gO.
The Self-Government Association
are still agitating. They have printed many of the hostile speeches made in connection with the affair and are now circulating them all over the province. Anti-foreign feeling is daily increas ing and spreading and, if the Foreign Govern. ments do not unito in taking prompt steps to crush it now, there will be serious trouble before long.
The Chinese have composed many songs on the 8.8. Fatshan incident and the following is a translation of one sung in Fatshan by a popular singer named Loong Chow Ng:
Methinks Chinese are classed lower than ants, A kick sends him to another world. For the killing of two missionaries in Shan-
tung.
a Bay, and
The Germans got
apologies
mines and railways galore are ceded. A whole province is the price of two lives. Why is Ho Tsoi Yin's case left in oblivion? Sang Kai Chi guilty of murder! The case being proved, why is he set free? How sorrowful to think of such an aubearable
thing!
Stir up brethern
+
in-
or we shall become as significant as a grain of sand.“ Note-Sang Kai Chai, meaning young cock" is the nickname of the watchman C. Noronha.
The British Consul-General has sent a Chinese translation of the whole proceedings in this matter to Viceroy Chang and His Excellency has instructed the Superintendent of Police to have the document published in all the local papers. This is being done in instaliments, as it is too long to be printed in one issue.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
belong to the most anti-foreign element in Canton.
The
**
[December 21; 1903 -
an important thing. All our brothern should thoroughly investigate this matter. We have I understand that the Viceroy has taken steps decided to hold a big meeting at the association to stop the local papers from misrepresenting to-day and all our brothern are invited to attend- the attitude of the British Cousul-General. the same.' A satisfactory proclamation was issued yester-
meeting of the Self-Government day by Viceroy Chang stopping merchants | Association, to which I alluded in my previons and the local papers from circulating false correspondence, took place at the Wah Lum rumours in connection with the incident. Temple, the Association's head-quarters, yester- There was a great concourse of The proclamation also states that the British day at noon. Consul General acted in a perfectly correct people. Many short inflammatory speeches were manner and in accordance with Treaty Regula-made condemning the British Consul's decision tions.
in the Fatshan incident. The speakers assured the people that the decision of the Portuguese Consul in the new trial which will take place at that Consulate would be exactly the same as that of the British Consul. They advocated the boycotting of the 8.8. Fatshan and wondered why the people still have the audacity to travel by that steamer and it was said that the ears of those daring to travel by that steamer would be cut off!
A new trial has been arranged to take place at the Portuguese Consulate, but there is no fresh evidence to be produced.
Viceroy Chang has received a petition from the Nam-loi Magistrate stating that the relations of the deceased have filed a statement of complaint at his yamen in this matter and begged him to communicate with the British Consul to fix a day for a fresh joint inquiry into the case and requesting the British Consul all the defendant's witnesses to to summon appear on the day of the trial.
“I
His Excellency replied 88 follows; have noted the contents of your petition. I
the have received a dispatch from
British Consul-General in connection with this matter in which he stated that the previous inquiry was only a preliminary step. Noronha being a Portuguese subject, the trial must be held at the Portuguese Consulate. The British Consul acted within the limits of his power in this matter and merely offered his assistance in this case. I have already forwarded a dispatch to the Portuguese Consul requesting him to fix a date for a joint investigation. I request you to order the relations of the deceased to lay a case bofore the Portuguese Consul. I farther instruct you to accompany the witnesses to the Portuguese Consulate on the day of the trial and to watch the case and see that the trial is fair. I also instruct the Provincial Judge to see that all my instructions in the matter are carried out in a proper manner.
It was believed that the Viceroy's Bound proclamation to which I have previously referred would have stopped all comment pending the But the new trial at the Portuguese Consulate. ringleader referred to in a previous article is agitating more than ever and has convened a meeting for to-day. If this man is not brought to book early I am afraid that the trouble is far from ended. He is a perfect anti-foreign crank, and is known by that nick-name amongst foreigners.
The following is a translation of a circular distributed by the Self-Government Associa tion:-
The Viceroy has issued a proclamation stating that the British Consul had done all in his power and confined his action within the limits of his jurisdiction in the case in which a foreign member of the crew of the steamer Fatshan kicked a Chinese to death; that the British Consul acted fairly and the proceedings were as regular as could be, and that he never attempted to shift his responsibility.
of a vessel after being registered on the ship's articles is under the jurisdiction of the nation to which that vessel belongs, and the steamer is responsible for the safety of passengers and goods. Now a Chinese was kicked to death
"We have made inquiries and find that I mentioned in several of my previous letters that the principal instigators of the present anti- according to the decision of the Hague Con- foreign movement are the members of the Self-ference in 1898 Article 32, section 2, the crew Government Association. The prominent mem- bers of this Society hold frequent meetings and discuss plans of action to keep the anti-foreign feeling going. The chief promoter of the Self- Government Association is well-known to every body. He is one of the gentry of Ho-Nam and has indentified himself with all the anti-foreigu movements that have from time to time occurred in the last few years.
He was the man who convened meetings on the West River patrol question, was again a prominent figure in the Paul Beau incident, and is now palling the strings in the Fatshan affair.
The publication of the full text of the proceedings at the British Consular Court should serve to correct the misrepresentations previously published in the Chinese papers, and should close the incident. I am afraid, however that nothing short of strong representations will stop the Self-Government Society from keeping the present agitation alive as it is their avowed intention to boycott Messrs. Butterfield and Swire.
If this Association and its champions are allowed to continue their bragging, there may be serious developments as the active members
on
is
steamer board of the
Fatshan which
a British vessel owned by Butterfield and Swire. The Chinese laws have not been modernized and the Chinese Government has no jurisdiction over foreigners. The British Consul's duty is, of course, to protect British trade, but he undertook the responsibility to decide this case in a just manner; consequently he could not shift his responsibilities of public justice on to others. The Fatshan is a British steamer, therefore it was perfectly within the British Consul's jurisdiction to try the case and the power of giving a fair and impartial decision in the matter rests entirely with him. The laws governing happenings at sea are different from A man being those applied on a Concession, kicked to death on a steamer by a member of the crew and no redress being given cannot be tolerated. Canton and Hongkong are the principal doors of traffle (in the South) and people are obliged to use this way.
Life is
The principal agitators held a private meeting at which a certain prominent Hongkong resident strongly urged them to drop the matter as it would lead them into trouble. Subsequently the Honam man who is the principal member of the Association telephoned at about 2p.m. to the Association to stop all propaganda until the issue of the new trial. None of the speeches made at the meeting were published in any of the local papers to-day.
A SOLDIER'S DEATH.
The inquiry into the circumstances attending the death of L. Corpl. Smith of the Buffs who died from self-inflicted injuries on the 27th ult, was resumed at the Magistracy on Dec. 11 before Mr. J. H. Komp.
Sergt. Webb, on boing recalled, said there was nobody near the deceased when he first
saw him.
Private Marsh stated that on the evening of the 27th ult., deceased asked him for the loan of his cap. Deceased took the cap and as is went out he said "Tell Corporal Wade there he a piece of foolscap on my table." Witness knew the deceased for five years. He was always on good terms with him and nobody had a grudge against him. It was a common thing for one man to borrow another's cap.
L. Corpl. Barker, who shared the same room; with deceased, mid he went out about 9 p.m., leaving Marsh in bed. When he returned at ten Marsh was still in bed. Witness heard nothing about borrowing a cap. Deceased was on good terms with everybody.
1
Private Dyer, who occupied the room next to that occupied by deceased, spoke to seeing L Corpl. Smith leave his room on the night in question. He had known deceased for four years. T'he razor produced belonged to deceased "This affair was a great surprise to witness who was
unaware
of deceased being worried over his private affairs. Deceased never complained of being overworked. He had a great deal of work.
Private Tozer said he saw deceased going out on the night in question. Deceased told him to tell Corporal Wade that he would find a sheet of foolscap on his table, and added "I'm off to fir up the messing." Witness knew no reason for the suicide. Deceased was on the best of terms. with everybody.
His Worship remarked that there was no reason shown why deceased should commit: sní- cide, but all the evidence pointed to side. There might have been some suspicion against. the man whose cap was found beside him but they were told it was quite a common practicši among soldiers to borrow each others caps.
The foreman (Mr. Sinclair) said the jury were of opinion that death was due to hemorrhage from a wound in the throat and that the wound was self inflicted. There was nothing to show ill feeling on the part of anyone on whom suspicion would be likely to rest.
Ten thousand pesos' worth of opium was seized the other Sunday morning on board the U. 8. cruiser Charleston lying off Manila behind the breakwater. It was found in possession of a Filipino named Arnecio, who, on arrest, claimed to be a Filipino laundryman from Cavite, where ho lives. Twenty-five kilos of the drug, valued at P400 per kilo, are now in possession of the authorities and it is expected” that still further arrests will be made.
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