This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA,
CONFIDENTIAL.
[40336]
(No. 212.)
No. 1.
452
[December 7.]
SECTION 1.
C.O.
49055
03 EC 06
Foreign Office, December 7, 1906.
Sir Edward Grey to Sir J. Jordan.
(Telegraphic.) P.
COMPENSATION for Shanghae riots. In reply to representations made to me on the 21st ultimo, to the effect that an indemnity, which would fall on innocent persons, would produce a bad effect, and that the guilty had been punished, the Chinese Minister was informed that His Majesty's Government expect proper punishment to be meted out to the officials and ringleaders found guilty, and, as agreed to by the Wai-wu Pu, compensation to be paid to bona fide sufferers, though we are ready to forego any claim to a general indemnity.
We should have no difficulty in furnishing a sufficient force to deal as promptly as on the last occasion with any riots which the Chinese fear may be caused by our insistence on the above points. You might drop a hint to this effect.
I approve your action, as reported in your despatch No. 405 of the 12th October.
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