[This Document is the Property of Her Britannic Majesty's Government.
[October 15124 OCT 00
AFFAIRS OF CHINA,
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 1.
SECTION 2.
805
Acting Consul-General Warren to the Marquess of Salisbury---(Received October 15.)
(No. 137.) My Lord,
Shanghar, August 30, 1900.
I HAVE the honour to inclose a copy of a despatch, dated the 23rd August, and its inclosures, which I have received from Mr. E. H. Fraser, Her Majesty's Acting Consul-General at Hankow, reporting the discovery of a plot on the part of the followers of the Reformer Kang Yu Wei and of the Kolao-hui to raise insurrection.
On the 27th January last, I telegraphed to Sir Claude MacDonald to the effect that a body of influential Chinese Reformers at Shanghae had asked me to receive a deputation, which I had declined to do. Whereupon they sent me a written communi- cation stating that, unless the Emperor was restored to the Throne, they were prepared to stir up the Secret Societies throughout the country with the object of compelling foreign Powers to interfere. It was pointed out in this communication that grave injuries would be inflicted on foreign trade by popular risings, which they regarded as inevitable, and that in the excited state of feeling throughout the country destruction of missionary property was to be anticipated. At the same time I reported that hand- bills were being distributed broadcast counselling resistance to the Empress Dowager's régime.
I warned the Reformers that the course they proposed to pursue would do them no good, and would alienate the sympathies of foreign Powers from their
cause.
It would appear that the more moderate of the leaders of the party have succeeded in keeping their followers quiet until quite lately, but they now confess that they have got out of hand and are prepared to follow the lead of Kang Yu Wei and Sun Yat Sen, who are openly stirring up the Kolao-hui and other Secret Societies with whom the Reformers are connected.
The severe measures of repression taken by the Viceroys Chang Chih-tung and Lui Kun-yi may, I hope, have a salutary effect and succeed in stopping the proposed insurrection. It may be, however, that the party will be driven to desperation, in which case a general rising throughout the country is to be feared,
I have the honour to inclose a copy of a farther despatch from Mr. Fraser, dated the 24th August, reporting that the Chinese authorities suspect the Japanese of complicity in the plot, but that in his opinion there is no reason to suppose that the Japanese Government was cognizant of it.
I have, &c.
(Signed) PELHAM L. WARREN.
Sir,
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Acting Consul-General Fraser to Acting Consul-General Warren,
Hankow, August 23, 1900. I HAVE the honour to inform you that a plot to raise insurrection has been discovered at this port.
Towards the end of last week a strong feeling of uneasiness manifested itself among the native population, many of whom, including petty officials, sent away their families from Hankow and Wuchang. This unrest was ascribed by missionaries to the issue on the 7th August, in the form of a Proclamation by the high authorities, of the Decree of the 2nd August. The Proclamation was at the request of myself and my colleagues promptly torn down here, and its issue in the rest of the Hukuang provinces forbidden, while on the 14th August another Proclamation, explaining that the Decree was not directed against converts, took its place. The uneasy feeling growing stronger, being ascribed to wild rumours of a Boxer invasion of Hupeh, the Viceroy
(2387 p-2]
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