ONFIDENTIAL.
emperthe
C.O.
16653
RECO
St.
Rock R MAY 01
Government Hopsg Long Trong.
582
April 12th, 1901.
Sir,
70.
I have the honour to enclose for your inform-
ation a cutting from the China Mail of yesterday giving an account
of the laying of a French cable to Amoy, as also of French activity
in Canton, where five French gun-boats have been stationed for some
months past.
2. With the, intimate relation that exists be-
tween Hongkong and Canton,the very rapid growth of French influence
there cannot be viewed with indifference. From a Chinese source I
hear that a demand for a French Concession outsude Shameen will pro-
bably be made. Twelve months ago the French flag was practically un-
known upon the West River. Now, as the cutting states, a number of
launches and junks have adopted the French flag, which will undoubt-
sily secure for them immediate compensation should any interference
with them be attempted, as the French have shown a determination to
adopt coercive measures in the event of any provocation,
3. The two gunboats of the Woodlark class con-
structed by Thorneycroft & Co. for the French Government, of which information was conveyed to you in my cypher telegram of January 5th.
1900, and by Major-General Gascoigne's Confidential despatch of 22×) June 1900, are now on the Pearl and West Rivers, where the French force is much stronger than ours. Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Seymour
agrees with me that in addition to the Sandpiper and the Robin we
ought to have two gunboats of the Woodlark class. The two gunboats