448
DOMESTIC.
6
In the afternoon of the same day the following telegram was received from his Excellency the Governor :-
"Inform Viceroy British flag hoisted. Request immediate removal of every Chinese official and soldier from any leased territories except customs-house."
This was at once embodied in a note and sent to the Viceroy. The messenger returned during dinner time, and stated that the Viceroy had read the note and declined to answer. The following telegram was accordingly dispatched to his Excellency the Governor at 8 A.M. on the 17th, as the telegraph office declined to transmit it on the preceding evening :--
"Last telegram received at once communicated to Viceroy, who sent verbal communication that he declined to send reply. No hope of action on part of Viceroy."
But the Viceroy afterwards reconsidered his refusal to reply, for in the afternoon of the 17th he sent a note declining to remove the officials on the strength of the Convention between Her Majesty's Minister and the Tsung-li Yamén, and stating that the 600 soldiers had been dispatched at the Governor's request. (He omitted to state that he had sent another 300 to prevent the removal of the customs, though at the interview with Mr. Pitzipios he admitted having done so upon the receipt of a telegram from Mr. Hillier, the Commissioner of Customs at Kowloon, stating that there would be no means of preventing smuggling after the 17th.) A translation of the above note was sent to his Excellency the Governor.
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NOL
COLONIAL
Aug
899
July
I returned to Canton on the afternoon of the 18th, having heard rumours of impending trouble while I was in Hong Kong. Upon my return, I found that nothing was known about them here. Among other things, it was reported that some of the Black Flags were in co-operation with the insurgents. I have since ascertained that the whole force, some 2,000 strong, is still in Canton.
Yesterday afternoon I received indirectly a Chinese document, consisting of a few sentences hastily pencilled on a rough scrap of paper, purporting to be the general tenor of a telegram sent by the Viceroy to the Commandants of the forts along the coast. The text, said to have been jotted down from memory, was as follows:...
"If any British men-of-war, numbering more than three, unauthorizedly enter the harbour, then, no matter whether they break into the interior or not, resolutely open fire on them.
Lay in a sufficient stock of ammunition,
Be extra careful
to strictly warn (the soldiers), and do not allow them to leave the camp.
I have forwarded original and translation of the above to his Excellency the Governor, with a request that he will inform the Commodore.
0
I have, &c.
(Signed)
R. W. MANSFIELD.
18614
C.O.
19000
RECO
&
REG? 20 JUL 99
Occupation of Karlson City and Sham Chun
Mr. Lucas
(Minutes.)
I think this may be further...
(Mr. Maflity)) [18614/notes
[18614 does not concern question.]
A. F
24/20
the Jellindar
4.6.7.24/7 C.P.Z 24
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baquent Paper.