2
exercise Consular functions, and was unable to give Mr. Clementi a passport. One was issued, however, by the Chinese Taotai at Kashgar, and was renewed at Lan-chou without any difficulty.
Mr. Clementi says there are few, if any, real Russian merchants in the parts of Turkestan he travelled through; the trade is in the hands of Andijanis (who are Russian subjects), natives of India, Chinese, and Afghans. He found a trading mission of the latter settled as far east as Su-chou and Lan-chou. The heads of this mission received Mr. Clementi most cordially, and treated him with great hospitality. The Belgians have a flourishing Roman Catholic Mission in Kansu, Liang-chou being the seat of a Bishop.
A M. Splingaert, said to be the son of a former Commissioner of the Imperial Maritime Customs at Su-chou, is settled at Lan-chou as representative of a Belgian Syndicate, who appear to be on very good terms with the provincial Government. They have imported machinery for a cotton-weaving mill, which is now in course of erection; they have a contract to erect a steel girder bridge over the Yellow River at Lan-chou, and they have a concession to place light-draught steamers on the Yellow River between Lan-chou, Ninghsia, and Bantu (Pai Ta Kou). Bautu is on the main road to Kalgan, and the promoters of the scheme hope, when their steamers are running, and the Peking-Kalgan Railway is open, to bring Lan-chou within fourteen days of Peking.
Mr. Clementi saw no signs of political unrest in the course of his journey through Kansu. At Lan-chou he was told by the officials that the Dalai Lama, now resident at Sining, would shortly proceed to Wu Tai Shan in Shansi. They did not think he would ever return to Lhassa.
Mr. Clementi left Ch'engtu for Hankow by boat on the 23rd January; from Hankow he proposes to proceed to Hong Kong, travelling overland by the Yueh Han Railway route.
I have, &c. (Signed) HARRY E. FOX.
C. O.
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[14156]
Sir,
No. 1.
Admiralty to Foreign Office.-(Received April 25.)
18960
Arc 583
IR... 20 MAY 08
[April 25.]
SECTION 1.
Admiralty, April 23, 1908.
I AM commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit herewith, for the information of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, a copy of a letter dated the 19th ultimo, with its inclosures, which has been received from the Commander-in-chief, China, respecting the seizure of the Japanese ship "Tatsu Maru."
Sir,
I am, &c.
(Signed) C. I. THOMAS.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Admiral Sir A. Moore to Admiralty.
"King Alfred," at Hong Kong, March 19, 1908.
WITH reference to their Lordships' telegrams of the 8th and 12th instant respectively, and my telegram of the 12th concerning the seizure of the Japanese ship "Tatsu Maru," I have the honour to report the following facts of the case, for their Lordships' information:
2. Messrs. Butterfield and Swire obtained the entire charter of this vessel, through their agents at Kobe, for the conveyance of about 2,000 tons of coal from Moji to Hong Kong, for which latter port the vessel presumably cleared, and under the charter she had no right to deviate except to save life or property.
3. The "Tatsu Maru" sailed from Moji with the coal on board on the 30th January, but instead of proceeding to Hong Kong in accordance with her charter, avoided that port and went on towards Macao, anchoring on the 5th February some 6 or 7 miles from the light-house, and about 2 miles outside what is called the "Courtesy Boundary." This boundary is the outcome of an agreement between the Macao authorities and the Chinese Customs. Outside and to the west of this boundary the Chinese Customs vessels cruise and search any vessels coming from Macao, and detain them if they have opium on board without a permit given by the Chinese Customs stations on the Island of Lappa, south of Macao. Inside and to the eastward of the boundary the Chinese Customs can take no action. The plan inclosed shows the boundary line and the positions the "Tatsu Maru" anchored in.
4. Soon after anchoring, the "Tatsu Maru" was boarded by the captain of a Chinese cruiser, who asked the master what he had anchored there for; the latter replied: "In order to discharge arms and ammunition." Seeing a lighter being towed out from Macao by a steam-launch in which were armed soldiers, the captain of the cruiser decided that, as the "Tatsu Maru" was in Chinese waters and about to discharge arms and ammunition without a Chinese permit, it was his duty to detain her. Accordingly he took possession, and being apprehensive that the Portuguese soldiers in the launch might attempt to board the "Tatsu Maru," he further decided to haul down the Japanese colours and hoist the Chinese, as an intimation that she was in Chinese custody. The vessel was then taken up the Canton River and anchored a few miles below the city.
5. Soon after her arrival in Chinese custody the Japanese Consul called on the Viceroy and demanded her immediate release, but the Viceroy informed him that he could not release her without investigation, and asked the Consul to assist him at a joint inquiry into the case. This the Consul refused, and he referred the matter to Tokio.