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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[18780]
No. 1.
[May 7.] CO
SECTION 2,18595
Mr. Max Müller to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received May 27.)
(No. 143. Confidential.) Sir,
REC (RFC 18 JUN 101
Peking, May 5, 1910. IN my immediately preceding despatch on the subject of the Changsha riots I stated that there appeared to be no doubt that the rioters were organised and did their work of destruction with system and method. It is reported that small bands of men, analogous to the "Boxer" bands of 1900, were the prime movers in the disturbance, and although it is difficult to ascertain the exact truth, it would seem to be the fact that a secret organisation of some kind has been instigating the movement.
A few days ago I was given a copy of a telegram sent to the Acting Inspector- General by the Japanese Commissioner of Customs at Yochow, who is much in touch with the Chinese officials, both military and civil. This telegram was to the effect that he had conclusive proof that "Boxers" from Shantung, Anhui, Kiangsi, and Hupei were at work, that they were dressed in a blue uniform, and called themselves "blue soldiers," that they had gone to all parts of Hunan to burn and loot missions, schools, and other foreign establishments, and that twenty-four leaders of the movement had come to Hunan during the month of March. Mr. Aglen, who communicated this telegram to me, said that Mr. Kurosawa had lately been a little wild in his statements, but that he thought that there was something in this report. I had already heard rumours of the existence of these "blue or black soldiers" in other provinces, and similar information had reached the French and Japanese Ministers. We agree, however, in thinking that the aims of this secret society are revolutionary rather than purely anti-foreign-an opinion which the nature of the riots at Changsha would seem to bear out.
The evidence of the consulate writer at Changsha, who saw the rioters at work, shows that they were an organised band dressed in a sort of dark uniform, that they were not Changsha men, and that they went deliberately about their work of destruction in an orderly manner, and with a total absence of popular fury.
That the Chinese Government and local authorities are aware of the existence of this secret organisation has been admitted to me by the Wai-wu Pa. They say that some of the ringleaders were captured at Changsha and the band broken up. They also assert that the association is revolutionary and anti-dynastic, and that the Central Government is fully alive to the necessity of nipping any such movement in the bud, and has sent strict orders to all viceroys and governors throughout China to take the severest measures to discover and punish any of its members.
Further evidence of the existence of the society is supplied by a circular said to have been drawn up by the now degraded Governor of Hunan, which has come into the possession of the Japanese cousul at Changsha. Mr. Hewlett informs me that this circular, which was never issued, ordered the arrest of twenty-four Boxer leaders, whose description corresponded in every particular with the men mentioned by Mr. Kurosawa, and also with the rioters seen by the consulate writer. Finally, I have the honour to enclose copy of a despatch from His Majesty's consul-general at Hankow, transmitting a translation of a document which had been communicated to Mr. Hewlett by Mr. Kurosawa, Japanese Commissioner of Customs at Yochow. This document is evidently the conclusive proof" referred to by Mr. Kurosawa in his telegram to Mr. Aglen, and Mr. Fraser is of opinion that it is either the précis of a report by the taotai to the governor, or else a telegram from one high official to another.
Though the use of the word "Boxer" is doubtless misleading, the information which has reached me from various sources indicates sufficiently clearly that a secret society has been actively working to subvert order, and that trained bands of its members, dressed in a distinctive uniform, are prepared to take advantage of local conditions to foment revolution wherever their efforts are the most likely to be attended by success. In my despatch No. 106, Confidential, of the 14th ultimo, on the general political situation in China, dwelt at some length on the danger arising from the spread of revolutionary and anti-dynastic spirit, and I can only repeat that, with the
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