(No. 17.) Sir,
2
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Acting Consul Bristow to Acting Consul-General Fox.
Chungking, June 7, 1907. IN this despatch I have the honour to report more fully than I was able to do in my telegrams on the disturbances at K'ai-Hsien.
Reference to the inclosure in my despatch to Peking, No. 18, of which I had the honour to forward you a copy, will show that trouble was anticipated as a result of the measures taken for the suppression of opium at the chief poppy cultivating centre in the province. Four of the hongs instituted for the collection of "tung-chuan" on opium had already been destroyed by the populace on the 1st May, and there had also occurred a rising of the Hung-teng Hui on the Sin-Ning border. When, therefore, I learned on the 3rd instant that a telegram had been received from Wan-Hsien reporting an attack by rioters on the China Inland Mission out-stations at K'ai-Hsien, it appeared not improbable that further disturbances would arise. I informed the Senior Naval Officer of the facts, and advised the dispatch of one of His Majesty's gun-boats to Wan-Hsien to check anti-foreign demonstrations. His Majesty's ship "Woodlark" accordingly left for that port on the 5th, and will remain there till tranquillity is restored.
From a letter dated the 31st May, addressed to me by the Rev. Walter C. Taylor, of Wan-Hsien, it appears that the discontent was primarily caused by additional taxation on opium and by the anti-opium movement generally. The Wan Magistrate considers the situation serious, as the district is a nest of secret societies, which have spread from Sui-ting (see my Intelligence Report for the December quarter, p. 2), and bands of malcontents are being drilled by men from Shantung.
Mr. Wapperfeld, the missionary at K'ai-Hsien, wrote to Mr. Taylor (the 27th May) that hundreds of people had joined the Hung-teng Hui, and were drilling openly. They were divided into camps with flags, and had threatened to destroy the Protestant Missions. The market-towns where this society was strongest were nearer to Wan- Hsien than K'ai Hsien, but neither of the Magistrates were exerting themselves to suppress the rioting.
On the 31st May the out-stations at K'ai Hsien were destroyed. From telegrams received I gather that Mr. Wupperfeld (a German subject) is safe, but that three chapels, and possibly the Mission itself, have been destroyed. The troubles are spreading.
The Ch'uan-Tung Tao has despatched 100 foreign-armed troops to K'ai-Hsien, and I have asked him to send a further force. His Majesty's ship "Vaterland" left to-day for the disturbed district, having been delayed by the loss of her pilot, who was incapacited by an over-dose of opium. It is worthy of remark that the Woodlark's' pilot suffered in the same way, but was made to proceed. Either there men had been drugged, or they were themselves unwilling to approach the scene of the anti- missionary movement.
I have, &c.
(Signed) H. H. BRISTOW,
Office or Individual.
Forcequi
1907
Last previous Paper. 70
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