4
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.] 566
C. O.
Inclosure 4 in No. 1.
Extract from Letter of Proceedings, His Majesty's Ship “Cadmus.”
THE Chinese squadron was at Nanking; their appearance is very smart indeed, but the ships do not seem to perform much drill, with the exception of the Commodore's ship "Ilai-Chi." She beat twice to quarters and on one occasion embarked some 700 soldiers and carried them down the river.
The embarkation was effected by means of steam-launches, the total time of the operation being one hour and five minutes. The weather was very favourable for drills and boat work. The only sign of the famine is the presence, outside the gates of the city, of some 15,000 refugees from the affected Province of Kiangpeh.
The residents state that it is really a matter of the greatest difficulty to distinguish between real and assumed distress, and that the little help that they themselves are able to offer to the authorities is refused by the latter, except under the condition that the money shall be handed over to the local Chinese authorities for distribution. A further proviso is made, that no foreigner shall go among the refugees, unless they are prepared to accept their own risks of being mobbed, for it is contended that relief, extended to a few only, would be the cause of discontent and possibly of riot.
Shanghae, January 10, 1907.
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[7683]
No. 1.
[March 912 538 ·
SECTION 8.
REGE 10 APR 07,
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Beceived March 9.) (No. 46.) Sir,
Peking, January 23, 1907. I HAVE the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a despatch which I have received from Mr. Brady, His Majesty's Consul at Chefoo, relative to the restrictions placed by "The Chinese Passengers Act, 1855," and "The Hong Kong Ordinance, 1889," on the conveyance of Chinese emigrants under contract by British steamers to foreign countries. Mr. Brady draws attention to Resolutions on the subject which were passed in November 1906 by the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce and sent to His Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies,
It would be useful for my guidance if I could be informed what reply was returned by the Earl of Elgin to the Resolutions referred to.
In this connection I may mention that in October 1906 I had occasion, as a result of information given to me by my French colleague, to inquire of Mr. Playfair, His Majesty's Consul at Foochow, as to alleged popular excitement at that port on account of the return from Mexico of many sick and destitute coolies who had been enlisted for mining purposes. Mr. Playfair's reply, copy of which I have the honour to inclose, was reassuring on the subject of the alleged agitation, but the results of the shipment of coolies by a German steamer, as described by Mr. Playfair, would seem to indicate a state of things which imposes the necessity of care in considering any modification of the existing Law and Ordinance.
I have, &c. (Signed)
J. N. JORDAN.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Consul Brady to Sir J. Jordan.
(No. 2.) Sir,
Chefoo, January 10, 1907. IN the spring of last year, while I was in charge of His Majesty's Consulate at Foochow, Messrs. Dodwell and Co., a British firm, chartered the British steamer "Powhattan" to take emigrant coolies from China to Mexico. The coolies being all under contract, and, moreover, destined for a foreign country, ie., a country other than a British possession, the question arose whether or not such a vessel was justified under the circumstances in engaging in the traffic. As I had had no previous experience in emigration business, I decided, before taking any responsibility in the matter, to place myself in communication with the Hong Kong Government, it being under the provisions of the Hong Kong Ordinances, as well as "The Chinese Passengers Act, 1855," that emigration from Chinese ports in British vessels is conducted. I was informed by the Colonial Secretary that British vessels were only privileged to take contract labourers to British possessions, and were debarred by law from carrying them to foreign countries. This being so, I was obliged to inform the British merchants accordingly, and the coolies were shipped eventually by a German steamer.
To Messrs. Dodwell and Co. the prohibition seemed hard and unreasonable, as they considered that, although such an enactment on the part of the Legislature might have been expedient in bygone days, when abuses in the coolie traffic were rampant, the continuance of it under present day conditions was unjust and uncalled for, and placed British shipping at a disadvantage as compared with that of other countries, which was subject to no restrictions whatever. Messrs. Dodwell and Co. informed me that they would take steps to have the question brought to the notice of the Government with a view to having the law amended, and they requested me to report fully on the subject to His Majesty's Minister, which I did.
I now notice in the last issue of the monthly magazine of the Incorporated Chamber of Commerce of Liverpool, just received, that the question came up before the Chamber in October, based on letters received from the China Association in Hong Kong and
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