This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
391
5944
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[1016]
No. 1.
[January 9.p
FREE
SECTION 1.
(REG: 18 FEE 09
(No. 529.) Sir,
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received January 9, 1909.)
Peking, November 25, 1908. I HAVE the honour to inclose copy of a despatch from the Governor of Hong Kong respecting the riot which occurred in the Colony on the 1st and 2nd November, as a demonstration on the part of the Chinese Society which is responsible for the boycott of Japanese goods in South China, and whose policy during the past few months is described in the Canton Intelligence Report forwarded in my despatch No. 524 of the 24th November.
The Court mourning rendered impracticable an immediate communication to the Chinese Government upon this subject, but I addressed Prince Ching yesterday, in the note of which I have the honour to inclose a copy, drawing attention to the injury which such a flagrant breach of the peace inflicted on good relations, and expressing the hope that the leaders of the outbreak, which was organized from Canton, would be severely punished.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
J. N. JORDAN.
Sir,
Inclosure I in No. 1.
Governor Sir F. Lugard to Sir J. Jordan.
Government House, Hong Kong, November 4, 1908.
I REGRET to inform your Excellency that on Sunday and Monday last this Colony was the scene of an organized riot, having for its object the destruction of the shops and goods of Chinese vendors of Japanese articles. From the inclosed copy of a despatch which I have addressed to the Consul-General at Canton, your Excellency will see that the affair was apparently organized from that city with such secrecy and skill as to have taken the police of this Colony completely by surprise. The riot attained such dimensions that I was under the necessity of calling out troops to restore order.
2. I leave to your Excellency's discretion the nature of the representations which you may judge it best to make to the Chinese Government as to what has occurred. I need not point out that the selection of Hong Kong for the scene of the outrage is calculated, and was possibly intended, to jeopardize British relations with Japan, while the originators at Canton hoped to evade the consequences which might have arisen had the affair occurred in that city. In this connection, I have the honour to inclose copy of a despatch I have addressed to His Britannic Majesty's Ambassador at Tokić. I have the honour to request that your Excellency will, in the strongest terms, urge upon the Chinese Government the imperative necessity for taking fully adequate measures for preventing the recurrence of an act so prejudicial to the good relations existing between our respective countries.
I have, &c. (Signed)
F. D. LUGARD.
P.S.-I am sending a copy of this despatch to the Secretary of State for the Colonies,
F. D. L.
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