COPY.
Enclosure 1.
October 1903.
Peking, 8th October, 1903.
C. O.
173
27148
Sir,
I have the honour to transmit herewith to Your Excellency a copy of a note to the Chinese Government in which are embodied the facts set forth in your Despatch No. 2685 of the 21st of August respecting the murder committed in Hongkong at the instigation of certain Chinese Officials.
In view of the fact that we have no Treaty right to demand the surrender of the accused, I am of opinion that it would have been useless to do so; such a request, moreover, involved a special difficulty at the present moment when His Majesty's Government are refusing to deliver up the Editors of the "Supao" Newspaper, the claim to whom is based by the Chinese Government on Treaty.
Under these circumstances, with the approval of the Secretary of State, I have limited myself to requiring that the perpetrators and instigators of the crime shall be arrested and brought to justice.
I have received a reply to my note in which Prince Ch'ing states that he has called upon the Viceroy of Canton for a thorough enquiry and report, and that he will address further on receipt of it.
Sir Henry Blake, G.C.M.G.
I have etc.,
(Sd.) Ernest Satow.