[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
C.O. 16123
322
[April 26.]
Tre?
CONFIDENTIAL.
13 MAY OC
SECTION 1.
[15642]
No. 1.
Sir J. Jordun to Sir Edward Grey,—(Received April 26.)
(No. 145.) Sir,
Peking, April 8, 1909. IN continuation of my despatch No. 135 of the 30th ultimo, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a despatch from the Acting Consul-General at Canton respecting the attitude of the Self-Government Society on the Macao question.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN,
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
(No. 34.) Sir,
Acting Consul-General Fox to Sir J. Jordan.
Canton, March 23, 1909. IN continuation of my despatch No. 25 of the 15th instant on the subject of the Self-Government Society's interference in the question of the delimitation of Macao, I have the honour to forward copies and translation of further extracts from the Chinese newspapers, from which it would appear that the Society are determined to do their best to render an impartial and friendly examination by the Commissioners of the questions at issue an impossibility.
I inclose a sketch-map illustrating the alleged encroachments of the Portuguese at Macao, which appeared in the "Seventy-two Guilds Gazette" of the 19th instant.
The Portuguese cruiser "Vasco di Gama" arrived at Macao on the 20th instant. She is an armoured ship of 2,072 tons displacement and 6,000 horse-power, with a speed of 15 knots. She was built at Blackwall in 1878 and refitted at Leghorn in 1903. Her armament consists of two 8-inch guns, four 4'7-inch, and two 2'5-inch.
I take this opportunity of correcting an error which crept into my despatch No. 19 should read owing to a misunderstanding. The "small cruiser named · Donna Maria "small cruiser Rainha Amelia,' one of the more modern Portuguese men-of-war, of 1,640 tons, 5,000 horse-power, and speed 20 knots, built in 1901, armed with four 5.9 inch guns and two 3.9-inch.
I have, &c.
H. H. FOX.
11
(Signed)
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Extract from the Report of a Meeting of the Self-Government Society on
(Translation.)
March 18, 1909.
Telegram to the Wai-wu Pu.
<<
Seventy-two Guilds" Press, March 19, 1909. PEOPLE here are alarmed at the constant attempts at encroachment by the Portuguese at Macao. We request that a telegram may be sent to the Viceroy and the Delimitation Commissioners to investigate the ancient land boundaries of Macao. Resistance should be shown and nothing yielded. Portugal possesses no waters, so that We must not surender our sovereign rights. We there is no seu boundary to delimit. jointly beg, in order to allay suspicion, the issue of a Proclamation explaining the principle on which the Commission should proceed. The slightest weakness will involve
We must resist to the death. Kuangtung in disaster.
[2243 cc-1]