This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
C. O.
286
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL,
[243]
No. 1.
[January 1 4136
SECTION
(Rest 4 FET 09
Telegrams communicated by the Marquis de Soveral, Portuguese Minister, January 1, 1909.
Telegrams from the Portuguese Minister for Foreign Affairs to the Marquis de Soveral.
(Confidential.)
(1.)
December 29, 1908.
I HAVE just received following telegram from l'eking
Note from Chinese Government just received protests against our authorities having recovered by force some taxes at Maniho, east of Grandvonkam, and taken some prisoners, and this during the negotiations for the delimitation. They ask whether it is true that a man-of-war (Portuguese) is coming to Macao, finding this extraordinary, and adding that Portuguese Government must not, in any case, use violence, in order not to impair good feeling."
To this I auswered :-
"Tell Chinese Government that in Lisbon nothing is known about the facts complained of. We are going to ask for information. Portuguese man-of-war (small cruiser) goes to Macao, as frequently happens, being natural to visit a Portuguese possession. Portuguese Government has no hostile intentions, and does not intend to employ violence. Portuguese Government regrets that Chinese Government has raised difficulties about the appointment of the Commissioners for the delimitation, and hopes that the Chinese Government will correspond to the good-will shown by them during the negotiations."
I deem it urgent to ask for the support of the English Government to avoid a coup de main on Macao, which, according to my information, is intended by the Chinese Government. During all these negotiations the proceedings of that Government have been so extraordinary that I fear they will oppose the visit of a Portuguese vessel to a Portuguese possession. As you know, we have always shown a spirit of great conciliation, but the demands of China, who believes us to be alone, are becoming less reasonable every day. Only a short time ago they raised doubts about the competency of three of the Connaissioners that we proposed for the delimitation. In order not to embitter the relations, I delayed the answer to those inacceptable objections, hoping to remove the difficulty in another way. As you see, a new incident has now appeared, and it would be dangerous to disregard all these indications of calculated hostility. If so much is necessary, and if it is your opinion, I ask you to obtain the mediation of His Majesty's Government.
(2.)
(Confidential.)
January 1, 1909.
I HAVE received the following telegram from our Chargé d'Affaires in Peking :- "Have received following telegram from our Consul at Canton :--
EK (
"Self-
Viceroy published to-day my letter referring to the case of the British steamer "Fatshan," in order to create excitement against us. To-day the Society Government" convoked a meeting of people against us and the English. I think it urgent that our Legation should demand from the Viceroy the dissolution and punish- ment of the said Society. I protest to-day in a letter making the Viceroy responsible for the consequences of his action.'"
[2116 a-2]