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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Goverment. O
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Rece Bee 26 AUG 10 [April 21-
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[13736)
(No. 81.)
(Telegraphic.) P.
CHANGSHA riots.
No. 1.
SECTION 1.
Mr. Max Müller to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received April 21.)
Peking, April 21, 1910.
My telegram No. 79 of the 17th instant. Information received is very confused, but I gather that trouble has broken out afresh at Changsha and at other parts of Hunan, viz., Lungyang, Yiyang, Ningsiang. The missions at the last two places are reported to have been burned, and at Yochow trouble was also expected. I have requested the Wai-wu Pu to enquire and furnish me with further details.
On the 18th instant His Majesty's consul apparently went back to the consulate, which he found untouched, the cyphers and archives being safe, but I received a telegram from Mr. Hewlett yesterday describing the situation as very serious, and saying that foreigners' lives could no longer be guaranteed by the officials. I had. before that suggested that it might be advisable for British subjects to abandon Changsha, and I added that those who remained did so at their own risk. I addressed urgent verbal and written representations to the Wai-wu Pu, pointing out how necessary it was to take prompt measures for the prevention of renewed or more extended disorders, but sufficient time has not yet elapsed to form an opinion of the result of any action contemplated by the Government.
His Majesty's ships "Nightingale" and "Thistle" are now at Changsha, but His Majesty's ship "Snipe" has run aground between Changsha and Yochow. French and Japanese gun-boats are expected to reach Changsha to-day or to-morrow,
His Majesty's consul-general at Hankow has been informed by the Viceroy that troops are being dispatched by his orders for the protection of any threatened. missions.
From another quarter I learn that, at the request of native shippers, two mer- chant steamers, one British and one Japanese, which left Hankow for Changsha yesterday reported all quiet.
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