att
4
The Governor of Hong Kong added that the Consul at Canton had telegraphed that the Viceroy was sending troops to Samchun for the prevention of disturbances.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
H. O. BAX-IRONSIDE.
Her Majesty's Government begging them to bear in mind the friendly way in which the territory was ceded by China and not to be deceived by false rumours,
On the 20th instant, when you came to the Yamên, you mentioned that the Governor of Hong Kong had requested the Governor-General of Canton to withdraw the troops he had lately sent, and that the Governor-General was not willing to do so. We have telegraphed to the Governor-General to withdraw these troops immediately.
(Cards of Yamên Prince and Ministers.)
Inclosure 1 in No.
The Tsung-li Yamên to Mr. Bax-Ironside.
(Translation.)
Peking, May 1, 1899.
Sir,
WITH regard to the fighting between British troops and Chinese people at Tai-po-bu in the Kowloon extension, we received your visit at the Yamên on the 29th April. You then stated that the Chinese in question included some who wore uniforms, and it was suspected that some soldiers were among their number.
We explained to you at the time that all the local defence corps formed by the villagers of Kuangtung have uniforms, and that it was certain that no soldiers had been concerned in this disturbance.
We find that on the 16th April Mr. Fulford, Chinese Secretary of your Legation, called at the Yamên and spoke of the affair. The same day the Yamên telegraphed to the Governor-General of Canton to investigate the matter and to effectively preserve order.
On the 19th April we received the Governor-General's telegraphic reply as follows:---
"On the 2nd April the Governor of Hong Kong came to see me, and requested me to send soldiers to keep order. I deputed at once the officer Fang to go with 300 men from Sanon to Samchun, and the Colonel Shên with 300 men to be stationed at Kowloon city.
"On the 3rd April, when the soldiers had not yet arrived, the foreign workmen were erecting houses for their soldiers at Tai-po-hu, and the villagers showed obstruction. Happily there was no disturbance. I afterwards received a verbal report from the officers Fang and Shen, who came to Canton, to the effect that the people of the district were disaffected, and that it was to be feared that they would make trouble with the foreign soldiers. I at once ordered the two officers to hasten to the spot and suitably admonish the people.
"In conjunction with the Governor of Kuangtung, I have issued a strong Proclamation for the instruction of the people, and quoting the terms of the Convention for the lease of the territory. This has been seen by everybody. The Proclamation also stated that the English would certainly not ill-treat the Chinese population of the extension district, and enjoined upon the people, both of the leased territory and the adjoining district, to quietly pursue their callings and not to make disturbances.
"On the 15th April, however, the English sent soldiers to erect a flagpole, and the people drew up in array on the hills and fought with the English troops. The Governor of Hong Kong suspected that they were regular troops from the fact that they had guns, cannon, and uniforms. He was not aware that the villagers of Kuang-tung, in their constant fights with each other, are always erecting forts, and use guns and cannon, and wear uniforms. This is a matter of common notoriety.
"I have now again given orders to the officers above mentioned to proceed in different directions and put a stop to these proceedings, so that there can be no disturbance."
On the 20th April the Yamen received another telegram from the Governor-General as follows:-
"Of the soldiers sent at the request of the Governor of Hong Kong for protection, 300 were stationed at the Custom-house and 300 at Samchun. These men and the garrison of Mirs Bay were far distant from Tai-po-hu. At the time of the disturbance raised by the people the soldiers had made no move. Of late many of the defence forces of the various villages have prepared for themselves flags and uniforms, and it is impossible to distinguish them (from soldiers). Nothing happened on the 17th and 18th April, and they may have dispersed."
We (the Yamen) have the honour to send you a copy of these telegrams from the Governor-General of Canton for your information, and to request you to telegraph to ...
Inclosure in No. 1.
Mr. Bax-Ironside to the Tsung-li Yamén.
Peking, May 1, 1899.
ON the 29th April, at an interview with your Excellency, I had the honour to convey a message from Her Majesty's Government with reference to recent occurrences in the Hong Kong extension.
I subsequently telegraphed to Her Majesty's Government the substance of your Excellencies' remarks in reply, and I have now received a telegram from Her Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs instructing me to inform your Highness and your Excellencies that unless proper consideration be given by the Chinese Government to the representations of Her Majesty's Government, Her Majesty's Government will be obliged to conclude that the Chinese Government are ignorant of, and have no control over, the proceedings of the Governor-General of Canton and the local authorities, and Her Majesty's Government will deal locally with the question at issue in regard to the Hong Kong extension without reference to the Peking Government.
(No. 18.)
I avail, &c.
(Signed) H. O. BAX-IRONSIDE.
Inclosure 9 in No. 1.
Consul Mansfield to Mr. Bax-Ironside,
Canton, April 20, 1899,
I HAVE the honour to report the details of the action taken during the last few days by this Consulate in connection with the assumption of British jurisdiction over the new territory at Kowloon.
On the 15th instant I left for Hong Kong, upon the invitation of his Excellency the Governor, to be present at the ceremonies attendant upon the hoisting of the British flag upon the day first appointed, namely, the 17th instant.
On the morning of the 16th, Mr. Pitzipios received the following telegram from his Excellency the Governor of Hong Kong
Message received from officer commanding 100 men Hong Kong Regiment, sent to Tai-po-hu to-day to prepare for Monday's ceremony of hoisting the British flag, that he found 1,000 Chinese troops with battery of field artillery; later message that Chinese troops opened fire. Request from Viceroy immediate answer whether these troops are regular forces or not; if they are, it is an act of war, I have sent ample reinforcements. I will hoist British flag to-morrow.
Inform Viceroy all Chinese authorities and soldiers in our territory must be removed at once.
Mr. Pitzipios, accompanied by Mr. Assistant Higgs, at once left for the Viceroy's Yamen and had an interview, lasting about an hour, with that official, the result of which was summarized in the following telegram, dispatched on his return, to his Excellency the Governor :-
"Just returned from interview with Viceroy, who denied that aggressors were regular forces. As regards hoisting British flag, Viceroy says 'please yourself,' but absolutely refuses to remove Custom officers and other officials. Said that soldiers would leave in due course when territory was taken over. Refused to send orders, telegraphic or otherwise."
Mr. Pitzipios characterized the Viceroy's whole tone and demeanour as obstinate, discourteous, and generally unsatisfactory.
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