This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
C.O.
44174 November 12.)
366
CONFIDENTIAL.
SECTION 1.2 DEC 08,
[39390]
No. 1.
Consul Carlisle to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received November 12.)
(No. 13. Confidential.)
Hanoi, October 7, 1908.
Sir,
I HAVE the honour to inform you that M. Klobukowski, the new Governor-General of French Indo-China, arrived at Saigon on the 24th ultimo and took over the Government from M. Bonhoure, who had been holding it provisionally since M. Beau's departure. M. Bonhoure resumes his substantive post of Lieutenant-Governor of Cochin-China. M. Klobukowski is only remaining a short time in Saigon, and is expected here about the middle of the present month. He will probably visit Huc on the way.
Since my last despatch (No. 12 of the 14th August) 3 more decapitations have taken place of natives concerned in the recent plot to poison the French garrison; 13 more men have been condemned to penal servitude for periods varying from two to twenty years, and 5 have been acquitted. Altogether 9 persons have up to the present suffered the capital punishment, and 27 have been sent to penal servitude in connection with this affair. This would seem to be sufficiently energetic action, considering that the attempt was an utter fiasco and that no single one of the poisoned soldiers lost his life or suffered more than a very temporary indisposition, but yet the local press continues to revile the authorities for their alleged leniency towards the natives. There are still some prisoners awaiting trial in connection with the affair.
Several other decapitations have taken place in the provinces of various brigands or dacoits. The idea which was quite accepted a year ago that in conformity with the public sentiment in France no more executions would take place in Indo-China, even of convicted murderers, is now entirely exploded.
Armed bands of robbers continue to give a good deal of trouble in Tonquin. On the 7th ultimo a band, believed to number only about thirty men, which had attempted to cross to the right bank of the Red River but had been headed off by the militia, fell back on the railway line and seized a village some 500 yards from the railway station of Tach-Loi, 21 miles from Hanoi on the Laokay line. They were promptly surrounded by the militia, who arrived by train from all parts, but the "pirates" had quickly entrenched themselves, and the militia thought it prudent to telegraph to Hanoi for a gun before attacking. As it was a Sunday great delay occurred in Hanoi before the various officials could be found, and it was not till past 1 o'clock in the morning that a mountain gun escorted by fifty European soldiers arrived by special train on the spot. Although the moon had by then gone down and the night was very dark, the gun at once opened fire on the village. The pirates replied with their rifles, and the fusillade lasted for about an hour without doing any harm.
It then ceased. At daybreak the gun recommenced its bombardment, but there was no reply, and it was found that, as might have been expected, the brigands had made off in the dark. One corpse was found in the village, and three wounded men were afterwards arrested in the neighbourhood; but though the pursuit was taken up by the militia the next day the band succeeded in making good their escape to the north. Altogether the affair had been very badly managed.
An impartial observer of recent events cannot help coming to the conclusion that the "milices" or "gardes indigènes" are not cast in very heroic mould. It is a frequent comment too, even of Frenchmen, that the Europeans ("inspecteurs" and gardes principaux") who lead them require reorganization. More young men are needed to give dash and enterprise to the force. Too many of the present men are of middle age, and have lived a life of comparative ease during recent years, so that they no longer regard the undoubted hardships of campaigning against pirates in the jungle as an amusing adventure.
A large band of brigands, mostly Chinese, and said to number 300, is believed to...
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