)
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
714
2
matters of marriage law and inheritance, they might find irksome. As a result, the Chinese preferred to remain in their present position, and asked me to let their Petition drop. Similar arguments will probably be used to the Chinese Government to induce them to let the capitation tax continue.
The Colonial Government also dislikes the idea of Chinese Consuls, lest it should unduly enhance Chinese prestige in Indo-China, and from a fear that the Consuls, in view of the large number of their nationals in the country, might obtain a very considerable influence, which, we they so minded, they might use to the detriment of French authority. In this connection they are anxious to settle the question of the status of the Minh-huongs," that is to say, the children of Chinese immigrants by Annamite mothers. In the days of Annamite rule, there were special Agreements with the Chinese Government by which these Minh-huongs were considered to be Annamite subjects, and might not be taken out of the country by their fathers without permission. The local Government would like to have some similar arrangement recognized, at all events, as far as holding the Minh-huongs to be Annamites is concerned. It does not, however, appear that the matter is of great importance, except in as much as the Minh- huongs might swell the following of a possibly obnoxious Chinese Consul. Their numbers do not increase largely, as they gradually lapse into Annamites, and in two or three generations are generally absorbed into the ordinary population.
It will probably be some time before the Government of Indo-China arrives at a solution of the question satisfactory to itself, but it is always possible that the matter may be taken out of its hands and settled directly between Paris and Peking.
It is impossible to give a really reliable estimate of the number of Chinese in French Indo-China, as no census has ever been taken. An estimate which appeared in the "Revue Indo-Chinoise" of the 30th August, 1906, gave the number of Chinese in the country in 1903 as 233,000; the Minh-huongs as 43,000; and the other foreign Asiatics as about 1,800. I am inclined to think that these figures are probably below
the actual numbers.
The amount of the capitation tax on foreign Asiatics varies in different parts of the country, and for different classes of persons. For the lowest class (coolies, servants, and the like the bulk of those paying) it ranges from about 7 dollars (say 14s.) to about 10 dollars (say 20s.) per annum.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
T. Ff. CARLISLE,
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL,
[41497]
No. 1.
Sir Edward Grey to the Marquis de Soveral.
[December11]
$
Pam 29 DEC 08
SECTION
Sir,
Foreign Office, December 11, 1908. WITH reference to my note of the 11th ultimo, I have the honour to inform you that a despatch, dated the 14th ultimo, has been received from His Majesty's Minister at Peking on the subject of the appointment of a Mixed Chinese and Portuguese Commission for the delimitation of Macao and its dependencies.
It appears that in consequence of a request by the Portuguese Chargé d'Affaires at Peking, Sir J. Jordan made on that day further representations to the Wai-wu Pu on the subject. He reminded them that the idea of a Joint Commission largely emanated from themselves, that His Majesty's Government had prevailed upon the Portuguese Government to accept it without insisting upon the withdrawal of the Chinese troops from the disputed territory, and that it would create an exceedingly bad impression if they now refused to complete the understanding simply because the Viceroy of Canton had some personal objections to the Commissioners nominated by Portugal,
The Ministers said that the Viceroy would have preferred to have Commissioners sent out from Portugal, and thought that there was little prospect of arriving at the settlement which he so earnestly desired by dealing with local officials who started with preconceived ideas on the subject.
Sir J. Jordan replied that it was always wise to give your opponent the credit of good faith and honest intentions, and that the Viceroy appeared to him to be prejudicing a settlement at the outset. There was an obvious advantage in having Commissioners who knew the locality and the history of the question, and probably the Chinese Government would find it advisable to appoint delegates possessed of similar knowledge and experience. Personally he was convinced that Portugal, equally with China, was sincerely anxious to arrive at a settlement of this long outstanding dispute. Even if the Commission did not solve the dispute, it would at least collect a mass of evidence which would facilitate a final settlement, and he felt sure His Majesty's Government would do anything in their power to promote an amicable arrangement.
I am glad to say that the Ministers admitted the justice of these remarks, and, without making any definite promise, conveyed the impression that they would reconsider the matter. This impression has unfortunately, however, not been confirmed according to the telegram from Sir J. Jordan, the substance of which I had the honour to communicate to you on the 11th ultimo.
I have, &c. (Signed)
E. GREY.
[2049 Z-1]