PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
سلسليسا
Reference :--
C.O. 882
5
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
SIR,
(No. 67.)
284
[44.]
British Consulate, Canton, May 20, 1899. REFERRING to your telegram of the 16th instant, relative to the occupation of Samchun and Kowloon city, which was embodied in a despatch to the Viceroy, I have now the honour to enclose translation of His Excellency's reply thereto.
The Honourable
SIR,
The Colonial Secretary, Hong Kong.
*
(Translation.)
[45.]
I have, &c.,
R. W. MANSFIELD,
Consul.
Viceroy T'AN to Consul MANSFIELD,
May 19, 1899. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge receipt of your despatch of the 17th instant, informing me that the Governor of Hong Kong, in accordance with instructions re- ceived from his Government, has sent a force to occupy Sam Chun and Kowloon city. I am also in receipt of a report from the Consul commanding at Ta P'eng, stating that on the 16th instant, between 3 and 5 p.m., several hundred soldiers, under the command of British officers, had swarmed into Kowloon city, and had shut the gates, allowing no one to enter or leave the town; that they had hoisted the British flag on the city wall, and had forced the officials and people to leave the city at once
I was inexpressibly surprised on receiving this report, seeing that the Boundary Commissioners of our respective countries had settled that Sam Chun was outside the limits of the new territory, and that the Taungli Yamen had formally agreed with the British Minister at Peking that the Chinese should still continue to exercise their functions within the city of Kowloon.
The Convention is still in existence, and I do not see how it is possible to depart from it.
It has long been known throughout the world that your country holds good faith and righteous dealing in the greatest estimation. Moreover, as the friendly relations between England and China have remained firm through a long period of time, it is only right that England should increase the already great cordiality of existing rela- tions. But the action of England in the present instance is not only prejudicial to friendship and contrary to international law, but also really gravely affects England's reputation.
The British Government is situated at a great distance from China, and has pro- bably misunderstood the state of affairs. It would seem to be the duty of the Governor of Hong Kong to telegraph to his Government to act in conformity with the original agreement so as to avoid universal adverse criticism.
In requesting you to inform the Governor of Hong Kong, I also beg the favour of a reply.
(Seal of Viceroy.)
(Translated by G. D. Pitzipios, Vice-Consul.)
(No. 70.) SIB,
[46.]
Her Britannic Majesty's Consulate, Canton, May 22, 1899. REFERRING to your despatch, No. 53, of the 18th instant, relative to the occupa- tion of Sham Chun and Kowloon, which was embodied in a despatch to the Viceroy, I have now the honour to enclose a translation of His Excellency's reply thereto.
His Excellency completely ignores the questions of the removal of the officers and the method of disposing of the arms.
The Honourable
The Colonial Secretary,
Hong Kong.
I have, &c.,
R. W. MANSFIELD,
Consul.
285
[47.] From Viceroy T’an.
SIR,
May 21, 1899. 1 ADDRESSED you the day before yesterday with regard to the sudden and unex- pected occupation of Sham Chun and Kowloon by British troops, and have as yet received no reply.
I have now the honour to acknowledge receipt of your further despatch, informing me that the Governor of Hong Kong, in accordance with instructions received from Her Majesty's Government, had despatched a force to occupy Sham Chun and Kow- loon city, which was so considerable that it would have been useless for the Chinese troops at the two places to oppose it. I have the honour to observe that it is provided in the Convention originally agreed upon that the Chinese officials stationed in Kow- loon city shall be allowed to continue as formerly in the exercise of their duties, and that Sham Chun was defined as being outside British territory. It is so shown in the map. Moreover, the troops first stationed at Sam Chun were sent there on the strength of your despatch, stating that the Governor of Hong Kong requested that troops should be sent to preserve order. The occupation of these two places by British troops, who took away the arms and ammunition of the Chinese forces, whom they forced to evacuate the places, is an utterly unreasonable proceeding.
Mutual forbearance is the foundation of all international intercourse, and if our respective countries both esteem violence and force above all else, how can we hope for peaceful days? Thus China has exercised self restraint and forbearance, being fearful of damaging the long standing cordial relations which have existed between China and England.
As the present forcible occupation of these two places is said to have been effected in accordance with instructions received from Her Majesty's Government, I would request you to be so good as to ask the Governor of Hong Kong to telegraph to Her Majesty's Government for instructions as to whether hereafter international questions pending between our two countries are or are not to be dealt with as heretofore in accordance with treaty.
In expectation of a reply,
(Translated by G. D. Pitzipios, Vice-Consul.)
(No. 56.)
+
[48.]
I have, &c.,
(Seal of Viceroy.)
SIR,
I AM directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letters of the 20th and 22nd instant, enclosing translations of despatches from the Viceroy of Canton, and with reference thereto to request you to inform His Excellency that the military action as regards Sham Chun and Kowloon City has beon undertaken under instructions from Her Majesty's Government, after having received reports from His Excellency the Governor of all the occurrences connected with the taking over of the leased terri- tory and the concerted attacks upon Her Majesty's troops on the 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18th ultimo.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hong Kong, May 27, 1899.
As regards the Viceroy's request that the Governor should telegraph to Her Majesty's Government, I am to request you to remind His Excellency that the under- taking given by him to the Governor in Canton involved grave responsibility that subsequent events show to have been completely ignored.
His Excellency the Governor regrets that the Viceroy has been so ill served in the matter, and, having submitted the question to Her Majesty's Government, His Excel- lency awaits their final decision as to the means by which the painful impression left apon them by the events of the past month shall be emphasized.
I have, &c.,
J. G. T. BUCKLE,
Her Britannic Majesty's Consul,
Canton.
pro Colonial Secretary.
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