[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
[B]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA
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10921 [April 21
504
CONFIDENTIAL.
SECTION 4.APR 10
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(No. 53.) Sir,
No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received April 2.)
Peking, February 16, 1910.
I HAVE the honour to transmit to you herewith a summary, compiled by Mr. Seeds, of the quarterly intelligence reports received from His Majesty's consular officers during the past month.
I would beg to draw your special attention to Mr. Seeds' description of the anti-foreign agitation in the Yangtse Valley, including Hunan, and of the movement for redeeming the National Debt, which he rightly describes as symptomatic of the present state of feeling in China.
As this is the last summary which Mr. Seeds will write before his departure, I wish to express my sense of the diligence, judgment, and ability which he has shown in the compilation of these summaries.
I have, &c. (For the Minister)
Enclosure in No. 1.
W. G. MAX MÜLLER.
Summary of Events.
National Debt Redemption Association and Anti-Foreign Agitation.
EARLY in December last, a society was formed in Tien-tsin by the Native Chamber of Commerce with the object of appealing to the nation for subscriptions to pay off China's foreign financial obligations, more particularly the indemnities incurred by the war with Japan and the troubles of 1900. Each province was asked to subscribe within three years the amount of the indemnities originally assigned to it by the Central Government. The assistance of the Provincial Assemblies was invited in regard to the assessment of each district and of every resident in the district. For the purposes of contribution the people are divided into two classes--rich and poor; the latter will not be pressed to contribute, but the rich will be asked to make up the amount due from the poor in their district. The Provincial Assemblies are also to fix the amount of subscription to be paid by provincial officials. These latter are expected to contribute liberally, and the Throne is to be prayed to award decorations to the contributors according to the amount they respectively subscribe.
This ambitious scheme was launched at a most propitious moment, when the temper of the people throughout China was ready to welcome any proposal to remove the alleged evils resulting from foreign financial schemes and the undoubted burden of debts and indemnities. Animated by the same ardour with which the Government are setting themselves to buy out all foreign concessions wherever possible, the native press loudly acclaimed the new scheme, and has since devoted itself to spreading the propaganda throughout the country. Whatever the ultimate result may be--and it is as yet naturally impossible to estimate the amount of funds that may be raised--- the proposal is symptomatic of the present feeling in China, and has undoubtedly aroused widespread enthusiasm. Tu Peking a meeting of high officials, representing various boards, is reported in the press as having decided unanimously that all officials under the second rank shall pay 30 per cent. of their salaries to the fund, and that soldiers shall contribute 1 per cent., while officials of higher degree will be expected to subscribe largely. At Hankow, the Acting Viceroy has circularised his officials, exhorting them all to assist this patriotic movement with their financial support, and
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