This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government
AFFAIRS OF CHINA,
CONFIDENTIAL.
[1244]
No. 1.
38147
[Hanuary 12.] "Rec 29 OCT 07 SECTION 11.”
(No. 507.) Sir,
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received January 12, 1907.)
Peking, November 29, 1906.
I HAVE the honour to forward to you herewith a summary of events which have occurred in China during the month of November, and which were not reported to you in separate despatches.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
J. N. JORDAN.
Inclosure in No. 1.
Summary of Events in China during the month of November 1906.
Chinkiang.
HIS Majesty's Consul reported on the 8th November that all kinds of alarming reports had appeared in the press with regard to the probabilities of famine resulting from the summer floods in the districts of North Kiangsu and the borders of Shantung and Anhui, He was of opinion that these reports could be largely discounted.
The state of chaos consequent upon the floods in the ordinarily troublous district at the juncture of Shantung with Anhui and Kiangsu has given an impetus to brigandage, which is more than usually rampant in the upper parts of the Grand Canal. A case was brought to the notice of His Majesty's Consul, in which a boat hired for the conveyance of goods under British transit pass, was openly attacked by brigands, who shot the head boatman dead, and ransacked the boat.
Hangchow.
His Majesty's Acting Consul reported on the 5th November last that the first meeting of the shareholders of the Chekiang Provincial Railway Company had heen held on the 26th October and following days. Some 890 shareholders representing 1,600,000 dollars in shares attended either by proxy or in person. The meeting appears to have occupied itself chiefly with making amendments in the Regulations with regard to the right of voting, the length of the term of office of the Director and Assistant Director, and the election of officers. It was stated at the meeting that some 6,000 persons had taken shares in the Company. The amount paid up appears to be between 4,210,000 dollars and 4,219,000 dollars.
Kiukiang.
His Majesty's Consul reported on the 1st November that the state of unrest which existed during the June quarter gradually disappeared with the improvement in the prospect of a good rice harvest, which was realized during August. Some small disturbances, however, took place, but they were in no way connected with foreigners or their affairs. In July a band of robbers raided a fairly rich village, 40 i (13 miles) from the district city. Several of the aggressors were killed, and about twenty made prisoners and sent in to the district Magistrate.
Shortly before this time a large body of smugglers began raiding the villages and hamlets on the banks of the Poyang Lake, their special objective being the market town of Hsing Tzu. Prompt action on the part of the Governor at Nanchang
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