PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :--
EPERE C.O. 882
9
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—–NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
22
registering in this office their applications to purchase. When more than one application has been made for the same plot of ground, they have been registered in order of receipt as first, second, third, &c.
It is possible that the revenue derived from mining may be sufficient to make the territory self-supporting.
7029.
No. 21.
I have, &c.,
.
A. R. F. DORWARD, Colonel,
Commissioner.
COLONIAL OFFICE to ADMIRALTY.
[See No. 25.]
(Confidential.)
SIR,
Downing Street, March 19, 1900.
To Officer Administering Government,
To War Office, March 19.
Memorandum by Colonel Lewis, R.E.
I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain Straita, March 16. (Draft herewith.) to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 26th ultimo relative to a proposal that Commander Gaunt, R.N., should undertake the duties cantonment magistrate on the island of Leu-Kung-tau.
To Foreign Office, March 17.
To Treasury, March 17.
of
2. In reply I am to request you to inform the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that as at present advised he gathers from the correspondence that it may probably be desirable to constitute the island of Leu-Kung-tau a separate municipality, to be administered, under the authority of the Governor or Administrator of Wei-hai Wei, by a joint board of military and naval officers.
3. Before, however, any final steps are taken towards the assumption of the administration of the leased territory by this country, and the settlement of the details of the government, Mr. Chamberlain is of opinion that it would be well to have the benefit of a visit to the dependency, and a report by an officer who is familiar with the general system of colonial administration, and who has had experience in dealing with Chinese. It has accordingly been arranged that Sir Frank Swettenham, K.C.M.G., Resident-General of the Federated Malay States, shall visit Wei-hai Wei, on his way to this country on leave of absence, and furnish a report on questions of revenue, administration, &c.
4. Mr. Chamberlain would ask that, until there has been time to consider Sir Frank Swettenham's report, existing arrangements should be as far as possible continued.
5. I am to enclose a copy of a despatcht which has been addressed to the officer administering the government of the Straits Settlements, in regard to the nature and scope of the report which Mr. Chamberlain desires Sir Frank Swettenham to furnish and I am to ask that their Lordships would be so good as to cause instructions to be .; given to the senior naval officers at Wei-hai Wei to furnish Sir Frank Swettenham with all the information and assistance in their power in connection with his visit. I am to add that he is expected to leave Singapore before the 30th proximo.
6. I am to take this opportunity of enclosing for their Lordships' information a copy of a memorandum which has been drawn up for this Department by Colonel J. F. Lewis, R.E., who was recently at Wei-hai Wei, and also copies of letters§ to the Treasury, War Office, and Foreign Office.
7029.
(Confidential.).
No. 22.
I am, &c.,
C. P. LUCAS.
COLONIAL OFFICE to WAR OFFICE.
SIR,
Downing Street, March 19, 1900. In reply to your letter of the 2nd instant I am directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain to request you to inform the Marquess of Lansdowne that Col. J. F. Lewis, R.E., has been in communication with this Department, and has furnished Mr.
Nos. 22, 23, and 21.
• No. 15.
↑ No. 18.
Enclosure in No. 18.
No. 16.
23
Chamberlain with a memorandum on various points connected with Wei-hai Wei, which has proved of great value. A copy of that memorandum is enclosed.
2. Mr. Chamberlain wishes to bring to Lord Lansdowne's notice the able and ready assistance which has been given by Colonel Lewis, and he would be glad if his lordship would cause his cordial thanks to be conveyed to Colonel Lewis. He would also be glad to know what allowance to cover expenses or otherwise should be made to Colonel Lewis, and whether such expenses can be borne by War Department funds, or whether an application to the Treasury on the subject should be made from this office.
3. As regards the third paragraph of your letter under reply, I am to state that Mr. Chamberlain concurs in the view that it is desirable that a military or naval officer should be made Governor of Wei-hai Wei; but he would suggest that further arrange- ments as to his position and functions should be reserved for decision at a later date.
4. It appears to Mr. Chamberlain that before any steps are taken towards the formal assumption of the administration of Wei-hai Wei, it would be advisable to have the benefit of a visit to the dependency, and a report from an officer who is familiar with the general system of colortal administration, and who has had experience in dealing with Chinese.
5. It has accordingly been arranged that Sir Frank Swettenham, L.C.M.G., Resident- General of the Federated Malay States, should visit Wei-hai Wei, on his way to this country on leave of absence, and furnish a report on questions of revenue, administration, etc.
6. I am to enclose a copy of a confidential despatcht which has been addressed to the Officer Administering the Government of the Straits Settlements, stating the ques- tions to which Mr. Chamberlain desires Sir Frank Swettenhamn particularly to direct his attention in the first instance.
7. I am to state that Mr. Chamberlain would be glad if Lord Lansdowne would be so good as to cause instructions to be sent to the Commandant and senior military officers at Wei-hai Wei to afford Sir Frank Swettenham all the information and assistance in their power in connection with his visit. I am to add that he is expected to leave Singapore before the end of April. I am also to enclose copies of letterat which have been addressed to the Foreign Office, the Admiralty, and the Treasury.
7029.
(Confidential.)
SIR,
No. 23.
I am, &c.,
C. P. LUCAS.
COLONIAL OFFICE to FOREIGN OFFICE.
[Answered by No. 28.] .
Downing Street, March 19, 1900. WITH reference to the letter from this Department of the 7th ultimos respecting the administration of Wei-hai Wei, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain to request you to inform the Marquess of Salisbury that it appears to him desirable to have the benefit of a visit to that territory and a report upon it by an officer who is familiar with the general system of colonial administration and who has had experience.in dealing with Chinese.
2. It has accordingly been arranged that Sir Frank Swettenham, K.C.M.G., Resident- General of the Federated Malay States, in whom Mr. Chamberlain has full confidence, shall visit Wei-hai Wei, on his way to this country on leave of absence, and report on such questions as the revenue which might be expected to accrue to the Government, and the number and functions of the necessary civil staff. A
copy of a despatch on the subject, which was sent by the mail of the 16th inst., is enclosed.
3. Until he has received and considered Sir Frank Swettenham's report, Mr. Chamberlain does not propose to take any steps towards the formal assumption of the administration and the establishment of the machinery of civil government.
• Enclosure in No. 18.
† No. 18.
‡ Now. 21, 23, and 24.
f No. 14.