This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
370
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[November 17.]
SECTION 7.
45640
[38618]
No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received November 17,)
(No. 393.) Sir,
Peking, October 4, 1906.
I HAVE the honour to transmit to you herewith a summary of events which have occurred in China during the month of September and have not been reported in separate despatches.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
J. JORDAN,
(Extract.)
Inclosure in No. 1.
Summary of Events in China during September.
Changshu.
Opening of Changte. On the 14th June Mr. Giles, the Acting British Consul at Changsha, reported by telegram that the proposed opening of Changte, which was referred to in Mr. Carnegie's despatch No. 232 of the 16th May, and which was to have taken place on the 2nd July, had been postponed under instructions from the Wai-wu Pu until the Regulations which had been originally approved for the foreign Settlement had been amended. A month later Mr. Giles reported that the opening would be postponed for several months, the chief reason for the delay being the Viceroy's objection that the draft Regulations (which Mr. Giles has not seen) hitherto submitted by Han Taotai did not sufficiently safeguard China's sovereign rights. The text of the Regulations was, he understood, being subjected to careful revision, lest any vagueness in the wording should enable foreigners to claim privileges not contemplated by the Chinese Government. It appears that while the mercantile classes would welcome the establishment of a trade mart, the gentry continue to regard the scheme with disfavour and have frequently petitioned the Governor, objecting to the various sites proposed for the Settlement.
On the 7th September Mr. Giles reported that not only had the gentry succeeded in carrying their point, but that they had secured the removal of the Governor and of Han Taotai, who would not meet their views on the question.
On the 22nd September a further despatch from Mr. Giles inclosed an extract from the Changsha "Daily Gazette," from which it appears that all the sites hitherto proposed have been abandoned, and that the officials and gentry at Changte have agreed upon a site in the Jen Shou An neighbourhood, which appears to be some 5 or 6 miles below Changte, on the same side of the river, and, in Mr. Giles' opinion, useless for the purposes of trade. Although, so far, no objections to the new site have been raised, the Chinese seem generally to be of the opinion that opposition will be forthcoming sooner or later, as the gentry object to the establishment of a trade mart in whatever neighbourhood and under whatever Regulations. One of the reasons seems to be that the local schools are supported by the revenue derived from the special local duty levied on imports of foreign yarn, which has hitherto been collected on their behalf by the native customs. Application has been made to the Customs Taotai and to the Commissioner of Customs to carry on this arrangement after the opening of the trade mart, but the application was rejected, and the gentry told that they must collect it themselves. This they declare themselves unable to do, and state that the schools, being deprived of their sole source of income, will eventually be compelled to close their doors.
[2226 r-7]