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CHINA
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On 30th April I further instructed Mr. Bax-Ironside to state to the Yamen that, unless proper consideration were given by the Chinese Government to the representations made to them, Her Majesty's Government must conclude that they were ignorant of, or had no control over, the proceedings of the Viceroy of Canton and the local authorities, and would have to deal locally with the matters at issue without referring to the Government at Peking.
Mr. Bax-Ironside addressed a note in the above sense to the Yamen on the 1st instant.
These repeated representations made to the Yamen led to no result, and after more than a week had elapsed, the Viceroy of Canton not having removed the Chinese troops from Kowloon City, and information having reached the Governor of Hong Kong of preconcerted plans for the invasion of the leased territory by large numbers of roughs from the northern boundary, the Governor was authorised to deal with the matter locally, and, with approval of Her Majesty's Government, Kowloon City and Sham Chun were occupied by the British forces..
In view of the fact that the Chinese Government do not hold themselves responsible for attacks by local mobs on British troops, the obligation falls upon Her Majesty's Government of performing the duty which is usually performed by the Sovereign of the country, but which the Chinese Government decline. After the recent experience which they have had not only of the worthlessness of the protection extended by the Chinese garrison at Kowloon, but of the additional danger involved in its presence, it is impossible for Her Majesty's Government to allow the resumption of Chinese authority within the walls of that city.
As regards Sham Chun, the question of the permanent arrangements to be made in respect to it must be reserved for future consideration; but as it appears to have been the principal basis of the attacks on the British forces, it will be necessary that it should remain provisionally in British occupation for the protection of the leased territory and the maintenance of peace and order in the neighbouring districts.
(Signed)
I have, &c.
SALISBURY.
Lo Feng Luh to the Marquess of Salisbury.—(Received 18th October)
(7280) No. 38 My Lord,
Chinese Legation, 17th October, 1899. Referring to your Lordship's letter of 30th May, I have the honour to inform you that I did not fail to acquaint the Tsung-li Yamen by telegraph of the decision of Her Majesty's Government to provisionally continue the British occupation of the Chinese town of Samchun, and reserve for future consideration the question of the permanent arrangements which would have to be made respecting it.
I have just received a telegram from the Tsung-li Yamen, informing me that shortly after receiving the above-mentioned communication, Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires in Peking called at the Yamen and stated that he had been authorised by your Lordship to say that Her Majesty's Government would be prepared to evacuate, and restore to China, the town of Samchun on two conditions, viz. :—
1. That the instalments then due to the Hong Kong and Shanghae Banking Corporation for interest on the Shan-hai-kwan Railway Loan should be promptly paid.
2. That Tan Tzu-cheng, the fugitive criminal accused of having been the principal instigator of the murder of Mr. Fleming, should be arrested. and brought to justice.
Now, these two conditions have been fulfilled. In a despatch which the Yamen has addressed to the British Chargé d'Affaires, the Yamen requested him to inform your Lordship that Tan Tzu-cheng had been arrested in the Province, of Hunan, and that the money which had been owing to the bondholders of the Shan-hai-kwan Railway Loan had been duly paid. Further, Mr. Bax-Ironside was to request your Lordship to have the goodness to cause the Governor of Hong Kong to be directed to order the evacuation of the town of Samchun, and to permit the Chinese authorities to resume the government of the City of Kowlung, conformably with the Convention of 9th June, 1898, which stipulates that the intra-mural jurisdiction of the place is reserved to China.