[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
2
Sir Robert Hart would agree to the cost of their repair and maintenance being met from Customs funds.
7. A copy of a recent Report from the Commanding Officer of the "Robin" on the state of affairs in the West River is inclosed, and I would express my opinion that the only means by which such piratical acts as those described in his letter can be stopped are by entrusting to the Customs authorities the powers I have advocated in paragraph 4.
at Canton.
Sir,
S. I am forwarding a copy of this letter to His Britannic Majesty's Consul-General
I have, &c. (Signed) A. W. MOORE.
Inclosure 2 in. No. 1.
Fortnightly Report of Proceedings, February 1 to 15, 1907.
"
'Robin," at Wuchow, February 16, 1907. I HAVE the honour to report that the West River between Wuchow and Canton appears quiet, and no information of piracies below Wuchow has been obtained between the 1st and 15th February.
The country about 18 to 30 miles above Wuchow appears somewhat unsettled, and I have the honour to report that a daring robbery occurred on the 24th January near Yun-wo-hn, a small market town in the district, 18 miles up the river.
Armed Robbery of Junks containing British Goods.-Armed robbers attacked four large junks at anchor about 9 P.M. by means of sampans. The attack was also covered by an armed party on shore.
The piece-goods hoxes were broken open and the contents taken away.
The estimated number of armed men and confederates was fifty.
The stolen property included some of the effects of Von Strauch, the Acting Commissiouer at Nanning, also a British firm at this port had goods to the value of 1,750 taels broken into and stolen.
Taotai Wong, who has taken active measures, has recovered a quantity of the stolen goods, and considers he has five of the ringleaders.
Tuotai of Wuchow-Owing to other outrages in this proximity, Taotai Wong is proceeding to the vicinity on Saturday, the 16th instant.
Loss of British Launch “ Hong Hing," No. 461.-I regret to report that the British launch "Hong Hing," a stern wheeler proceeding from Wuchow to Kuli-hsien, struck a rock off Circular Island (some 35 miles above Wuchow), and sank at 2 P.M. on Friday, the 8th instant. Forty passengers, the Comprador, three crew, and five guard soldiers were drowned, and all cargo and papers lost.
The Chinese New Year has passed without incident at Wuchow.
Taotai Wong has been most friendly and hospitable, and did me the honour to invite me to accompany him as his guest on his journey to pacify and punish the country
in the vicinity of the outrage that I have already submitted.
Inspection of Launches.--I submit I have inspected the following launches: "Tsun Fat," "Tung Wo," Choung Fat," "Wung Fat."
56
The "Tung Wo," 502, had no name and a wrong number, and has been reported to Canton and sent there for re-survey, which was overdue. The behaviour of the British launches is, I have the honour to report, improving.
The Senior Officer,
West River Gunboats.
I have, &c.
(Signed) COLPOYS C. WALCOTT,
Lieutenant-Commander.
19974
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
RECE REGE 5 JUN 07)
[May 4.]
CONFIDENTIAL.
SECTION 4.
[14408)
No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received May 4.)
(No. 133.) Sir,
Peking, March 16, 1907. WITH reference to my despatch No. 71 of the 6th February, I have the honour to inclose copy of a Confidential despatch from His Majesty's Consul at Nanking, reporting conversations with the Viceroy and the Shanghae Taotai on the subject of the settlement of the Shanghae riots. Mr. Ker had informed me by telegraph of the purport of these conversations, and I was not therefore surprised to receive on the 4th March a Memorandum from the Wai-wu Pu, in which I was asked to send an officer to Nanking to negotiate on the basis of reciprocal compensation. I inclose a translation of this Memorandum.
Next day, 5th March, I called at the Wai-wu Pu and stated my reasons--which I need not here repeat--for considering the request inadmissible, and said that if the demand for compensation by us to Chinese sufferers was persisted in, I saw nothing for it but a joint investigation by the Judge of His Majesty's Supreme Court and the present Shanghae Taotai into the riots and the causes of them, including the conduct of Tantai Yuan. There was the usual lengthy discussion over the old ground, and it was finally understood that I should put my views shortly before their Excellencies in writing at another meeting.
I have the honour to inclose copy of the Memorandum which I left at the Wai-wn Pu on the 8th March, in pursuance of this understanding. As you will see, I expressed my readiness to recommend to His Majesty's Government that a joint inquiry should be held at Shanghae before the Judge and Taotai to investigate exhaustively the causes of the riots and the conduct of the officials concerned, Chinese and British, including Taotai Yuan, and to report on the questions of compensation and punishment of the ringleaders. As it is well known that the Taotai Yuan has no desire to figure in the witness box, I made a point of insisting that his personal testimony would be necessary in the event of such an inquiry taking place.
Their Excellencies had no objection to offer to my proposal, but they showed by their manner and by sundry casual remarks that it was not likely to find favour with Taotai Yuan, the principal person concerned; and I have gathered generally that it might be useful to the Viceroy of Nanking in bringing pressure on that gentleman and his friends to assist towards a solution less objectionable to themselves.
(No. 7. Confidential.)
Sir,
I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Consul Ker to Sir J. Jordan.
Nunking, March 3, 1907. ON the occasion of my New Year visit to the Viceroy Tuan Fang on the 20th February, I inquired when the Shanghae Taotai was coming, and asked that I might be informed of the result of the conference between the Viceroy and him on the subject of the settlement of the Shanghae riots. His Excellency stated that the Taotai was expected about the 22nd, and promised that he would let me know the conclusion arrived at.
The Taotai did not arrive until the 26th, and on the 28th I sent a message to the Viceroy's yamên asking for an interview next day. In the evening an answer came that the Viceroy would see me on Sunday, 3rd March. In the meantime I had arranged to call next day on the Shanghae Taotai, who had called on me last year on his way to his post, and whose visit on that occasion I had not been able to return.
A few days before I had read in a Chinese newspaper published in Shanghae (the "Universal Gazette" of the 21st February) two letters purporting to have been written by the Shanghae Taptai on the subject of riot compensation.
[2494 d-4]
B
198