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sum of money should be deposited pending the enquiry. (This telegram reached Hankow on the morning of the 4th September, so that it cannot have been until some time that day that Mr. Eastes received it, if it ever reached him. There is no evidence that Mr. Eastes carried out these instructions.)
September 2 (late at night).—A telegram in Chinese from Wu Pei-fu to Yang Sen, directing him to release the merchant ships at once, was received on board His Majesty's ship "Cockchafer."
September 3 (morning).—This message was transmitted to General Yang, who answered that he had telegraphed a reply to Marshal Wu direct.
September 3, 6 P.M.-His Majesty's ship "Widgeon" arrived at Wanhsien and tied up alongside "Cockchafer."
September 3, 9'15 P.M., G.M.T. (September 4, 5'15 A.M., Ichang time).-Telegram sent to His Majesty's Minister stating that His Majesty's Government had authorised the use of force as a last resource.
September 4 (probably not later than 9 A.M.).—Steamship “Kiawo," with naval crew but no wireless, left Ichang for Wanhsien.
September 4.—According to the Wai-chiao Pu, Sir R. Macleay called on them and was assured by Admiral Tsai Tingkan (Minister for Foreign Affairs) that instructions for an amicable settlement would be wired to General Yang, and these instructions were sent the same afternoon.
September 5 (morning).—Considerable numbers of extra troops were sent on Kiawo's " board · Wanhsien ' and Wantung," showing that news of the plans had reached General Yang and that the element of surprise had been lost.
Kiawo" does not appear to have been informed of this.
September 5.-Commander-in-chief, China, informed Rear-Admiral, Yang-tsze, that on the arrival of the "Kiawo" at Wanhsien it would be desirable for His Majesty's consul to repeat once more the offer of an enquiry and guarantees. We have no evidence that these instructions were carried out; they would appear not to have been received.
"Almost before she September 5, 6'20 P.M.-"Kiawo" arrived at Wanhsien.
Very early in the fierce reached abreast of the 'Wanhsien' firing commenced." engagement a hot fire was directed against His Majesty's ship Cockchafer' from all sides, with rifles and machine guns; several shots penetrated her armour- plating, while at least three field guns were brought into action against her. Under the circumstances, Lieutenant-Commander Acheson had no option but to bring into action both his G-inch guns in the endeavour to silence the hostile field guns and also to search out the more important of the many premises in and around His Majesty's ships "Widgeon' Wanhsien City occupied by Chinese troops.
and Cockchafer managed to reach before nightfall an anchorage some 5 miles below Wanshien, whence was clearly visible the glow of the large fires started at several points in the city by the bombardment " (Mr. Eastes's report). A fuller report of the action is necessary, and will no doubt be forthcoming in due course from the Admiralty,
British official report put the Chinese losses at less than 100 civilians killed, 140 injured and 20 houses destroyed. According to Chinese official statements more than 100 police or gendarmes were killed, nearly 1,000 civilians killed and The wounded, and over 1,000 houses and buildings were destroyed by guntire. British casualties were 3 officers and 4 seamen killed, and 2 officers and 13 seamen wounded; one of the mercantile marine officers lost his life in an attempt to escape. The remaining 5 officers were rescued, but it was found impossible to remove the detained steamers.
September 5, after 810 P.M.-His Majesty's Minister telegraphed to Rear- Admiral, Yang-tsze, that he expected His Majesty's consul to make final effort for amicable settlement, on lines laid down on the 2nd September, before force was actually used. This telegram was, of course, too late to be acted upon.
Subsequently negotiations were initiated at Ichang between Rear-Admiral Cameron and Yang Ben's representative, and on the 19th September it was reported that the return of the steamers, through a neutral (American) intermediary, had been agreed to.
September 25.-Steamship "Wantung" arrived at Ichang and was handed over to her owners.
over.
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525
"J
September 28.-Steamship "Wanhsien arrived at Ichang and was handed'
September 29. British gunboats left Ichang to resume their normal duties with their base at Chungking.
The incident has so far had no repercussions except locally. But in Szechuan, and particularly in Chungking (which was for a month without a British consul and also without its usual British naval patrol) there has been considerable anti-British agitation. The situation became so aggravated that on the 17th September all British women and children were evacuated. An anti-British boycott has been started there, and there has also been considerable looting and destruction of British property. There has also been considerable anti-British agitation in Chengtu, which is ten days overland from Chungking and where there is a very large community of British missionaries (principally Canadian) and, in view of geographical conditions and the impossibility of affording direct protection, it has been necessary to consider seriously the question of their withdrawal.
While the Wanhsien episode has stirred up Szechuan feeling to such a pitch as to become a genuine threat to the existence of British interests in that province, it cannot be said to have achieved anything towards the removal of the causes that led up to it. The commandeering of steamers continued, and has now reached such a point that steamers have practically ceased running.
Proposals have been put forward for the investigation of the Wanhsien incident by a joint diplomatic enquiry. His Majesty's Minister has been authorised to consent to such an investigation or, at his discretion, to propose it. If the enquiry is to be held, it appears highly desirable that the terms of reference should be comprehensive and admit of the consideration of all causes of hostility to and interference with British steamers on the Upper Yang-tsze. His Majesty's Minister has also beeu instructed to report as to the desirability of making a small compassionate grant to the civilian sufferers of Wanhsien.
A strong section of local opinion urges that the problems of the Upper Yang-tsze can only be settled by means of strong action, which, it is suggested, night take the form of a blockade of Szechuan. Owing to the fact that practically the whole of the external trade of Szechuan is carried by the River Yang-tsze, a blockade could be made effective with a minimum of force, but, owing to the self-contained nature of the province, the cessation of external trade would not be a fatal, or even a serious, blow, and the blockade would have to be continued for months before it would have any beneficial effect. The effects of the blockade would first make themselves felt in the salt trade, and would therefore react directly on the militarists of Szechuan, who derive the bulk of their revenue from the salt taxes, but the stoppage of the export from Szechuan would mean that the supply for Hupeh was cut off, and the blockade would immediately foment anti-British movements in that province, thus spreading rather than curbing the trouble.
Moreover, it would be fatal to initiate a blockade without first withdrawing all British subjects from Szechuan a step which appears distinctly paradoxical as a means of maintaining British interests.
V.-Denunciation of Treaties by China.
The Peking Government has embarked upon a course of denouncing," when- ever they fall due, the "unequal treaties concluded with foreign Powers. Further, when the right of denunciation applies only to certain (e.g., tariff) clauses in the treaty, the Chinese Government nevertheless assume the right to denounce the whole treaty, including the exterritorial clauses.
This policy of treaty denunciation began with the notice given to the French Government on the 4th February, 1926, that the time had come for a revision of the conventions of the 25th April, 1886, the 26th June, 1887 (with additional commercial convention of the same date), and the 20th June, 1895-all dealing with trade and customs arrangements on the Indo-China frontier. The French Minister, on receiving this note, questioned whether the provincial authorities and people of the Province of Yunnan, who enjoyed certain special privileges under the treaties, had been consulted, and also doubted whether the present Peking Government was in a position to denounce a treaty with a foreign Power and to conclude a new one. We have no further information as to the attitude of the French Government regarding these conventions, but the Peking Government have recently given orders that, in
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