234
to which the Ministers replied that they had received a telegram from the Viceroy of Canton to the effect that, at the special request of the Hong Kong Government, troops had been sent to Kowloon to preserve order. Their information from Canton, con- flicted, therefore, with the purport of the telegram I had communicated to them.
Complaints, they said, had been made to the Canton Viceroy that soldiers in uniform were involved in the disturbances, but His Excellency had explained that they were not his soldiers, only local levies. According to the Yamên's informa- tion 800 troops had been sent to Shamchun and 300 to Kowloon to keep order.
I interposed and pointed out that the request to preserve order was made before the Hong Kong Government had taken over the territory.
Now that this was done, Her Majesty's Government wanted the troops removed and the Viceroy refused to take the necessary steps; hence the present trouble.
The Ministers said that they saw no reason why the Governor of Hong Kong should not speak to the Viceroy direct on this subject.
I replied that the Governor had done so, but that the Viceroy had refused to remove the troops.
Their Excellencies said that they would make inquiries and see what the Viceroy replied. No doubt, they added, he was relying on the paragraph in the Kowloon Convention which allowed Chinese officials to exercise jurisdiction in Kowloon city.
I dwelt on the grave and pressing character of the situation.
The continuance of Chinese jurisdiction in Kowloon city was expressly made contingent on the military requirements for the defence of Hong Kong, and the Tsung-li Yamên should fully realize that all the troops in the leased territory must be removed.
The Ministers promised to telegraph the purport of my communications and remarks to the Viceroy of Canton.
my
The same evening I shortly reported the result of this portion of interview with the Tsung-li Yamên to Your Lordship by telegraph.
On the following day I received a telegram from Hong Kong informing me that the Viceroy of Canton had telegraphed privately to the Commandant of the coast fortifications that if any British men-of-war, numbering over three, entered the harbour, fire was immediately to be opened on them.
15670
S.
235
No. 193.
GOVERNOR SIR H. A. BLAKE to MR. CHAMBERLAIN. (Received 5.10 p.m., June 18, 1899.)
TELEGRAM.
I am informed by Mr. Jackson that there is a serious feeling of unrest at Canton. I doubt the expediency of our returning at present from the Sham Chun valley.
15533
S.
SIB,
No. 194.
COLONIAL OFFICE to FOREIGN OFFICE.
[Answered by No. 196.] ̈ ̄ ̄ ̄
WITH reference to the letter from this Office of the 9th instant respecting the
Downing Street, June 21, 1899. compensation to be demanded from the Chinese Government for the resistance to the British occupation of the new territory at Hong Kong, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain to enclose for the consideration of the Marquess of Salisbury copies of two telegramst from the Governor of Hong Kong, stating the expenditure that has been or will be incurred in consequence of the recent disturbances.
2. I am to suggest that, if Lord Salisbury sees no objection to the proposal, the sum of $100,000 should be demanded from the Chinese Government as compensation for this expenditure, and that it should be intimated to them at the same time that further compensation will be demanded if there are any fresh disturbances necessitating further expenditure.
an
I have, &c.,
H. O. BAX-IRONSIDE.
I am, &c.
C. P. LUCAS.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
། ། ་། ་།
C.O. 882
15533 5.
No. 192.
GOVERNOR SIR H. A. BLAKE to MR. CHAMBERLAIN.
(Received 12.16 p.m., June 17, 1899.)
TELEGRAM.
In answer to your telegram of 13 June,* abstract as follows :-Navy, $4,361 ; Army, $41,000; Police, $33,427; Public Works Department, $8,835; Telegrams, $4,807; Miscellaneous, $1,330; total amount, $93,560. Further expenditure: Army, at daily rate of $100.
(Further telegram, received 4,45 p.m., June 17, 1899.)
Referring to my telegram of this day, add “and Civil, at daily rate of $20.”
15870
SIR,
No. 195.
COLONIAL OFFICE to FOREIGN OFFICE.
.
[Answered by No. 201.]
With reference to the letter from this Office of the 19th instant, forwarding
Downing Street, June 21, 1899. paraphrase of the first part of a telegram from the Governor of Hong Kong respecting the reported murder of missionaries and Chinese converts in Fukien province, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain to enclose, for the consideration of the Marquess of Salisbury, a paraphrase of the second part of this telegram,§ in which Sir Henry Blake suggests that in view of the uneasiness prevailing at Canton, presumably on account of this report, it is inexpedient to evacuate the Sham Chun valley at present.
→
The Mr. Jackson referred to is probably the manager of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank at Hong Kong,-now Sir T. Jackson.
I am, &c., `
C. P. LUCAS.
• No. 187.
698
• No. 184.
↑ No. 198.
L.F. transmitting copy of 15656 (not printed).
j No. 193.
YG 1
5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
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8.
236
No. 196.