118
when everything seemed quiet in my neighbourhood, I gained the road to Sha Tin, and took my party to a safe distance along it, and awaited daylight.
I subsequently made my way to Sha Tin by boat, and as I saw no signs of the relieving force I started for Hong Kong at 7 a.m., as the Sikh police had had nothing to eat for 24 hours, and the Chinese soldiers were thoroughly tired out.
What struck me most in the above incident was the evidently organized manner in which members from the surrounding villages concentrated to take part in the attack on the matshed. This is no doubt a method of the clans, in which the leased territory abounds, adopted both for offence and defence.
·
It was difficult, owing to the darkness of the night, to estimate the numbers who took part in firing the matshed, but there must have been between 100 and 200 men.
I have, &c.,
The Honourable
11645 3.
The Colonial Secretary.
No. 142.
FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.
(Received May 9, 1899.) [Answered by No. 147.]
F. H. MAY.
the
149
•
I would respectfully venture to suggest that line of policy mentioned in your telegram No. 75 be now adopted, and that Sir Henry Blake be instructed in this sense.
I have asked for a further interview with Yamên as soon as possible. I have received no reply from them to the note which, in accordance with the instructions conveyed in your telegram No. 75, I addressed to them on the 1st instant.
11652 8.
(Confidential.)
Mr. Bax-Ironside.
No. 143.
FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.
(Received May 9, 1899.)
[Answered by No. 147.]
THE Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs presents his compliments to the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, and with reference to the letter from this office of to-day's date," is directed by the Secretary Tel. No. 134, May of State to transmit, for the information of Mr. Secretary Chamberlain, the accompanying copy of a telegram, as marked in the margin, relating to the Kowloon disturbances.
Foreign Office,
9, 1899.
May 9, 1899.
SIB,
(Confidential.)
Foreign Office, May 9, 1899. In my letter of the 1st instant, I enclosed a copy of the instructions telegraphed to Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking on the previous day, with regard to the difficulties which have arisen in carrying out the Convention for extending the boundaries of Hong Kong.
am now directed by the Marquess of Salisbury to transmit to you a telegram from Mr. Bax-Ironside, stating that he has received no reply to the note which he addressed to the Toungli Yamên, and suggesting that Her Majesty's Government should proceed to take the action foreshadowed in the instructions, viz. : to deal locally with the matters at issue without reference to the Government at Peking.
Lord Salisbury has little hope that any good result can be obtained by means of further representations to the Yamên. In view, moreover, of the opinion expressed by Mr. Bax-Ironside, I am to suggest, for Mr. Secretary Chamberlain's consideration, that the Governor of Hong Kong should be instructed by telegraph to take such steps as may be necessary to secure the execution of the Convention, and to occupy the city of Kowloon.
I am, &c.,
FRANCIS BERTIE.
Enclosure in No. 143.
Paraphrase of a TELEGRAM from Mr. BAX-IRONSIDE, Peking.
D. 1.5 p.m., R. 11.22 a.m., May 9, 1899.
May 9. No. 134. Yamên informed me yesterday that after note of May 1 and last interview they telegraphed to Viceroy to arrange all matters with Sir Henry Blake in a friendly spirit. They had also telegraphed to Chinese Minister in London to represent matters to your Lordship. I brought to their notice the complaints which Sir Henry Blake mentioned.
10053.
(No. 81.)
No. 144.
MR. CHAMBERLAIN to Governor Sir H. A. BLAKE
Downing Street, May 9, 1899.
SIR,
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 73 of the 24th March, and enclosures relative to the completion of the delimitation of the Northern boundary of the new territory, and I shall be glad you will convey to Mr. Stewart Lockhart my appreciation of the able manner in which he has conducted the negotiations with the representative of the Chinese Government on this occasion.
I have, &c.,
J. CHAMBERLAIN.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :---
C.O. 882
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
Enclosure in No. 142.
Paraphrase of a TELEGRAM from Mr. BAX-IRONSIDr, Peking.
D. 1.40 p.m., R. 4.0 p.m., May 7, 1899.
May 7. No. 129. Two further telegrams received from Sir Henry Blake. One states that villagers of Shunwan in new territory had complained that 13 runners had come with summons to appear before Sanon magistrate, and had demanded a fee of 50 dollars. The second informs me that Sir H. Blake has heard that there are preconcerted plans of invasion into the new territory by large numbers of rowdies from the North boundary.
Sir H. Blake wishes me to assist him in both matters, and, as regards the second, he requests me to insist on Viceroy being instructed to use (?) efforts to prevent such ■ contemplated invasion of territory, as otherwise he will be obliged to take such measures of self-defence as may lead to complications.
No. 136.
11645
No. 145.
MR. CHAMBERLAIN to GOVERNOR SIR H. A. BLAKE.
(Sent 3.55 p.m., May 9 1899.)
(Paraphrase.)
Report whether you
TELEGRAM.
[Answered by No. 148.]
have sufficient force to secure immediate evacuation Kowloor and also for occupying Sham Chun. If so, say how you would proceed to secure these two objects, and await final instructions. Desire, by displaying overwhelm- ing force, to avoid bloodshed, if possible.
No. 142.
↑ No. 125.
150