[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
12
Rack
[March 21.]
SECTION 4.
No. 1.
Sir,
Admiralty to Foreign Office.-(Received November 21.)
Admiralty, March 19, 1901.
I AM commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit herewith, for the information of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, extract from a general letter, dated the 15th ultimo, from the Commander-in-Chief on the China Station, relative to the state of affairs on the West River.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
EVAN MACGREGOR.
Inclosure in No. 1.
(Extract.)
Vice-Admiral Sir E. Seymour to Admiralty.
"Centurion," at Hong Kong, February 15, 1901.
ROBBERIES continue to be reported from the West River; they are said to increase greatly about the time of the Chinese New Year when the Chinese are moving about with money.
At present there is only the "Robin" available for patrolling the river. She was at Canton on the 12th instant for a small repair to be effected, and left again on the 14th for Sum Yungki, with the British Vice-Consul. The Viceroy has not hitherto done much to suppress the lawlessness in this province, but is now said to be sending a large number of troops (over 1,000) to Sum Yungki, where an attack was recently made upon a house-boat having some Europeans on board.