CONFIDENTIAL
(7464)
No. 21
enclosure No.1
COPY
Mr. Bax-Ironside, Her Majesty's Minister at
Peking, to Tsung-11 Yamen.
MM. les Ministres,
Peking, November 6, 1899.
HAFERRING to the note addressed to me on the lat ultimo, requesting me to telegraph to Her Majesty's Government to ask that the Governor of Hong Kong might be instructed to withdraw the British troops from the territory of Shamchun, and to allow the Chinese authorities, in accordance with the special clause in the Agreement, to exercise jurisdiction within the city of Kowloon, I have the honour to state that, in accordance with your wishes, I brought the matter to the notice of Her Majesty's Government.
I am now in receipt of a telegraphic reply, instructing me to inform your Highness and your Excellencies that the Governor of Hong Kong has been told to withdraw British troops from Shamchun within the boundary previously delimitated.
Sir Henry Blake has been also directed to clearly inform the Viceroy of Canton that he is expected to protect those Chinese outside the boundary who have shown friendliness to British troops during our occupation for maintaining law and order on the frontier, and for securing life and property.
I am inatructed to obtain a pledge to this effect from the Tsung-li Yamen, and to add that failure on the part of the Viceroy of Canton to co-operate with the Colonial Government in this respect may lead to a second occupation.
On the 30th May last the Marquess of Calisbury ad- dressed a note to the Chinese Minister in London stating the reasons why Her Majesty's Government cannot allow the resumption by Chinese authorities of jurisdiction in Kowloon city.
Copy of this note was doubtless forwarded to your High- ness and your Excellencies by the Chinese Linister, and Her Hajesty's Government adhere to the decision therein contained
I have the honour to request your Highness and your Excellencies to favour me with a reply without delay con- taining the desired assurance with respect to Chinese who have shown themselves friendly to our tF@ops during the Occupation of Shanchun, in order that I Bay transmit the same by telegraph to Her Majesty's Government.
I avall, etc.
(Signed) H. O. BAX-IRONSIDE.
5.