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The next day I sent Mr. Hillier to the Yamên to inform the Ministers that I had been authorized by your Lordship to insist on the publication of an Imperial Decree, but before making a formal demand on this point, I wished to know whether the Chinese Government were prepared to take this step of their own motion, as I preferred that it should appear to be a spontaneous act of their own. that they could spare me the necessity of making such a demand, as an Imperial Decree The Ministers told Mr. Hillier had already been issued, and would be communicated to me in the course of the day. They alleged that they had only received their Report from Canton the previous evening, but that in the meantime, the publication of the offensive Proclamation had come to the knowledge of the Empress from another source, and that Her Majesty had at once ordered the issue of a Decree disapproving of the employment of such underhand means of attack, censuring the high authorities who issued the Proclamation, and proclaiming the inviolability of foreign jurisdiction. They added that the Decree would be published in the "Peking Gazette," as I had desired.
In the evening I received from the Yamên the note, of which I inclose a translation, communicating to me the Decree, which appears to me to be quite satisfactory, and I trust it will be so regarded by your Lordship. It appeared yesterday morning in the "Peking Gazette." I add a copy of my reply to the Yamén, acknowledging its receipt, and expressing my high appreciation of the promptness with which His Majesty the Emperor had marked his high disapproval of an act which constituted an aggression on the sovereignty of Great Britain, and was calculated by its inhuman character to bring grave reproach upon the Chinese Government.
In conclusion, I venture to observe that the publication of an Imperial Decree censuring two High Imperial Commissioners, the Governor-General of two provinces and the Governor of the province in which Canton is situated, in less than three days from the time when I first intimated that I considered such a step necessary, furnishes very acceptable evidence of the desire of this Government to maintain friendly relations with ourselves, and of an improved disposition to comply with the just requirements of Her Majesty's Representative.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
HARRY S. PARKES.
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stating that the Proclamation had been published at Singapore, and demanding that immediate steps should be taken to rectify the serious evils it would create.
Seven days having elapsed since the first interview, Sir H. Parkes considered that the Prince and Ministers would surely have received the telegraphic Report they had called for, and when he visited them again yesterday he expected to find them fully informed on the subject. He was therefore surprised to learn from them that they had yet received no reply from the high authorities at Canton.
Sir H. Parkes then stated to his Highness and their Excellencies that having care- fully thought over the subject during the interval which had elapsed between his two visits, and being now assured by the telegrams he had received, both from the Consul at Canton and the Governor of Singapore, that the publication of the Proclamation was an undoubted fact, he had formed the conclusion that the only adequate remedy for an act which would be universally regarded with abhorrence, and which was an offence against the dignity of the Chinese Government, as well as against the sovereignty of Great Britain, was the issue of an Imperial Decree, to be published in the "Peking Gazette," denouncing the adoption of such barbarous measures of retaliation, enunciating the impropriety of invading the sovereign rights of other Powers, and censuring the authorities who had issued the Proclamation.
He understood the Prince and Ministers to say that they acquiesced in this view, but that they could not frame a Report to the Throne and pray for the issue of such a Decree until they were in possession of the terms of the Proclamation, which they were momentarily expecting. If the representations of Sir H. Parkes were confirmed by their Report, they were certain that the Proclamation would be entirely disapproved by the Emperor, as it was opposed to His Majesty's previous Decree.
Sir H. Parkes expressed his appreciation of these assurances, though he felt compelled to regret the unaccountable delay shown by the high authorities of Canton in reporting on the subject. He would continue to wait two or three days, by which time he trusted these Reports would have arrived.
Sir H. Parkes has to add that having telegraphed at the close of yesterday's interview to Her Majesty's Consul at Canton, to ask him to name the high authorities who had issued the Proclamation, be has just received a reply from the Consul stating that they are the Governor-General and Governor with the Imperial Commissioners, Prêng and Chang.
With, &c.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Sir H. Parkes to the Tsung-li Yamến.
Peking, September 27, 1884.
WITH a view to prevent misunderstanding, Sir H. Parkes thinks it desirable to place on record the representations which be made to the Prince and Ministers at the two interviews he has held with them relative to the Proclamation issued by the high authorities at Canton on the 15th instant, and in which they call on the Chinese in Tonquin, Saigon, Singapore, and Penang to destroy French vessels and poison French
men.
Sir H. Parkes first saw the Prince and Ministers on this subject on the 19th instant, immediately on receiving a telegram from Her Majesty's Consul at Canton, informing him of the publication of the Proclamation. He pointed out to the Prince and Ministers that such a Proclamation was a grave infraction of international law and a gross offence against humanity; that it would most seriously injure the reputation of China in the estimation of all nations, and that for any Chinese authority to issue Proclamations to the Chinese in British territory was a serious affront to the Government of Great Britain. It also seemed to him that this Proclamation was wholly opposed to the spirit and injunctions of the Imperial Decree of the 26th ultimo, the liberal tone of which had elicited general admiration.
The Prince and Ministers disavowed all knowledge of the Proclamation, and declared that such a publication would never be permitted by the Government, if only for the reason mentioned by Sir H. Parkes, namely, that it was altogether adverse to the Imperial Decree of the 26th August. They assured Sir H. Parkes that they would at once call upon the high authorities at Canton for an explanation by telegraph, and would com- municate with Sir H. Parkes immediately on receiving a reply.
Pending this reference, Sir H. Parkes also telegraphed to Her Majesty's Consul at Canton to ask whether he was quite sure that the Proclamation had been issued, and the Consul reported in answer that he was certain of its authenticity. Yesterday morning Sir H. Parkes also received a telegram from his Excellency the Governor of Singapore,
(Translation.)
(Signed)
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
The Tsung-li Yamén to Sir H. Parkes.
HARRY S. PARKES.
Peking, September 29, 1884. THE Prince and Ministers of the Tsung-li Yamên have the honour to inform the British Minister that on the 29th September, 1884, the Grand Secretariat were honoured by the receipt of the following Imperial Decree :-
"In consequence of the infringement of Treaty and breach of good faith of which the French were guilty some time since, and the hostilitics which were commenced by them, we called upon the high officers in command of troops along the coast, with the Governors-General and Governors concerned, to combine in a united attack upon the French troops with their armies of defence, ordering them to continue, as hereto- fore, to extend their protection in an equal degree to the merchants and subjects of every nationality, even French officials, merchants, missionaries, and citizens, who pursued their avocations in an orderly manner, being included in the category of those entitled to protection.
"The Court was guided in the dignified line of action thus assumed by no other considerations than sincerity in the treatment [of the subjects of other Powers].
"It has lately come to our knowledge that the Governor-General, Governor, and others at Canton have issued a Proclamation calling upon the inhabitants of the sea-coast to show their loyalty and patriotism by piloting French ships upon the sea into shallow waters where they will take ground, and placing poison in the food [of the French]. They further extended this mandate to Chinese in Singapore, Penang, and other places.
"In posting such Proclamations on Chinese soil the Governor-General, Governor, and those associated with them were animated by a desire to arouse a strong feeling of
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