This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
C. O.
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 1.
370
39485 [September 19.]
SECTION 2. 23 007 031
Consul-General Scott to the Marquess of Lansdowne.--(Received September 19)
Canton, August 18, 1903.
(No. 29.) My Lord,
I HAVE the honour to inclose herewith copies of correspondence concerning the export of cattle from Kuang-hsi: despatches Nos. 28 and 30 of the 12th and 17th instant. From this correspondence it will be seen that the new Viceroy has, without a word of warning, reversed the arrangement made last April by the Chinese Government, in deference to the representations of His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires in Peking, for allowing the export of cattle from Kuang-hsi,
It is true that after my protest the Viceroy has now allowed the export from four districts; but the whole conditions and circumstances are so unsatisfactory, being restrictive of Treaty rights, that I have deemed it my duty to renew my protest.
I have, &c.
(Signed) JAMES SCOTT.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
(No. 30.) Sir,
Consul-General Scott to Mr. Townley.
Canton, August 17, 1903.
IN continuation of my despatch No. 28 of the 12th instant with reference to the prohibition by the Viceroy of the export of cattle from Kuang-hsi, I now beg to inclose copy and translation of a note from the Viceroy and of my reply thereto.
The Viceroy now proposes to open the four districts of Wuchou, Nsünchou, Ping-lo, and Yü-lin, and in doing so seems to consider that he is making a great concession; but in the working of the arrangements and for the issue of transit passes he has laid down certain new conditions which appear to me to be arbitrary and impossible. Hitherto, passes have been issued to cover a large and wide area, generally the whole Prefecture, so as to enable the trader to collect the animals from various places according to supplies, when with them and the pass he proceeds to the nearest li-kin barrier and reports.
From the language and action of the Viceroy in sending a deputy to watch the dealers purchasing cattle under transit pass, he must imply that such dealers are in collusion with the rebels, an innuendo for which he has no grounds whatever.
Seeing that the issues in connection with the export of cattle from Kuang-hsi had already been raised and determined consequent on the prohibition by the late Governor of the province, and that the Chinese Government had already sanctioned the export, on the representations of His Majesty's Minister, the whole proceedings of the present Viceroy in this matter can only be characterized as vexatious and unfriendly. There is far less reason in the present situation of affairs in Kuang-hsi to justify the present Viceroy in imposing the prohibition than might well have been claimed by Governor Wang.
I have, &c.
(Signed) JAMES SCOTT.
(Translation.) Sir,
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Viceroy of Canton to Consul-General Scott,
August 13, 1903. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge your letter referring to the prohibition of the export of cattle from Kuang-hsi. On receipt of it I immediately telegraphed to Kao Weiyuan of the Yang Wu Chu to interview you personally on the subject. He, having done so, replied by telegraph that you urged the withdrawal of the prohibition on the ground that supplies of cattle were absolutely necessary for Hong Kong.
[2157 -2]