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willing and anxious on several occasions to yield to the representations I have had occasion to make to them, but the Japanese have behaved in such a violent and overbearing manner that they have found it impossible to do so.
As illustrating what has been taking place in the interior, I may mention that recently, upon my demanding the surrender of some camphor which had been detained at Sui Kow, the Foreign Deputy was sent up with instructions to take delivery of it and bring it down to Foochow; when he arrived, however, he found the Japanese would not recognize him, neither would they recognize the local Magistrate, and they absolutely refused to allow the camphor to be touched; they lay on the cases with knives and revolvers by their side, and said, before they would relinquish it they would sacrifice their lives. Remonstrances were in vain, and finally the Deputy had to return without accomplishing the object of his mission. A few days later the same Japanese made another attempt to seize a consignment of camphor belonging to Messrs. Dodwell and Co., and upon resistance being shown by the men in charge of it, they drew revolvers, and the Chinese retaliating in like fashion several coolies were wounded; it was only on the Magistrate coming upon the scene himself that the trouble was suppressed. Since then I have heard that they broke into the Magistrate's Yamên while that official was absent at Foochow, whither he had come to ask for instructions as to how he should deal with these constantly recurring cases of violence, and made off with the camphor. How far this latter case is true, however, I cannot say, as I have only heard it from outside sources, but the two previous cases were vouched for by the officials, and they are said to be typical of what has been taking place in the interior for some time past.
So far as this Consulate is concerned, however, the only question that now remains to be considered is the one regarding the amount of compensation to be paid to Messrs. Cave-Thomas and Co. and Mr. Bucknall, and upon that Yang Ta-jên was very anxious to come to terms with me, but as he made no definite proposal, I informed him that, having referred the matter to you, I should have to await your instructions before I could do anything. His reply was that I need not wait for instructions, that if we only agreed upon the sum the case might be settled at once. After a long discussion it transpired that he was prepared to pay a sum of about 14,000 dollars, but as the value of the camphor seized came to over 13,000 dollars, I could not agree to it, and upon his repeatedly pressing me to say what I considered a fair indemnity, I at last told him that if he would double his offer I would submit it to you by telegraph for your approval. He was not prepared, however, for so large a claim, and the matter dropped.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
HERBERT W. BRADY.
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Inclosure 3 in No. 1.
The Board of Foreign Affairs to Consul Brady.
Sir,
Kuang Hsü, 30th year, 6th moon, 15th day (July 27, 1904.) THE instructions received from his Excellency the Viceroy regarding the abolition of the Fukien Camphor Bureau and the closing of the local camphor offices, having already been communicated to the Consular Body, the Board have now the honour to inform you that the Japanese experts in the employ of the Bureau have all been dismissed and recalled in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Camphor Agreement. The Board beg to acquaint you further that they have communicated with the Japanese Consul on the subject, and have requested him to similarly recall all the Japanese experts who had been sent into the interior for the purpose of effecting seizures of camphor; consequently, if hereafter any Japanese interfere up-country with the transport of camphor by foreign merchants, or if they commit any breach of Treaty, or do anything to cause injury to the business of such merchants, the responsibility must rest with the Japanese Consul, who will have to settle the matter with the Consul concerned.
The Board have already notified the Japanese Consul of this, and in addition to acquainting the Consular Body, they now beg to communicate it to you for information and guidance.
(Seal of the Foreign Board.)
(Translation.) Sir,
Inclosure 2 in No. 1,
Foreign Board to Consul Brady.
Kuang Hsü, 30th year, 6th moon, 11th day (July 23, 1904.)
WE have the honour to inform you that we have received the following communication from the Viceroy:
"The Fukien Camphor Bureau has been closed, and all the local offices of the Bureau have been abolished. In future all merchants, Chinese or foreign, who go into the interior to trade in camphor will be at liberty to do so without restriction or interference. If hereafter any person, pretending to be in the employ of the Camphor Bureau, stops goods in transit, the local officials are to take vigorous measures for the protection of trade, the preventing of such actions, and the arrest of the persons committing them.'
We have circulated the above instructions, and directed the local officials to issue Proclamations accordingly.
We have, &c.
(Cards of the members of the Board of Foreign Affairs.)
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