24
4. Mr. Chamberlain would be glad if Lord Salisbury could see his way to instructing Her Majesty's Consul at Chifu to give Sir Frank Swettenham, who is expected to leave Singapore before the 30th proximo, assistance in matters of interpretation, and where local knowledge is required.
5. A further communication will be addressed to you in due course in regard to the Order in Council, the draft of which was enclosed in your letter of the 13th of December last. In the meantime I am to ask that any reports or Foreign Office prints relating to the subject may be sent for the guidance of this Office.
6. Copies of letters to the War Office, Admiralty, and the Treasury are enclosed.
7029.
No. 24.
COLONIAL OFFICE to TREASURY.
I am, &c.,
C. P. LUCAS.
[Answered by No. 27.]
Downing Street,
9284.
25
No. 25.
ADMIRALTY to the COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF ON THE CHINA STATION. (Sent March 21, 1900.)
TELEGRAM.
(Paraphrase.)
(No. 45.)
Your letter, No. 56, of 14th January. It has been arranged by Her Majesty's Government that the Resident-General of the Federated Malay States, Sir Frank Swettenham, shall visit Wei-hai Wei, and report on questions of administration, &c. He will leave Singapore before the end of April. The existing arrangements for carrying out the administration of Lew-Kung-Tau are to be continued, as far as possible, until Sir F. Swettenham's report has been considered.
Instruct naval officers at Wei-hai Wei to furnish him with all the information they
can.
PUBLIC
RECORD OFFICE
Reference :--
C.O. 882
6
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
D
SIR,
March 19, 1900. I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain to request you to inform the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury that Her Majesty's Government have decided that the leased territory of Wei-hai-Wei shall in future be administered by this Department.
2. Before, however, any steps are taken towards the formal assumption of the administration, and the establishment of the machinery of civil government, it appears to Mr. Chamberlain that it would be of advantage if an officer who is familiar with colonial administration, and has had experience in dealing with Chinese, should visit Wei-hai Wei, and furnish a report dealing with such matters as the best means of raising revenue, and the staff of civil officers that will be necessary.
3. It has accordingly been arranged that Sir Frank Swettenham, K.C.M.G., Resident- General of the Federated Malay States, an officer of great experience, in whom Mr. Chamberlain has full confidence, shall visit Wei-hai-Wei on his way to this country on leave of absence. He is expected to leave Singapore before the 30th proximo.
4. The inhabitants of the leased territory appear to be for the present continuing to pay their taxes, &c., to the Chinese officials, and there will therefore be no local funds available for defraying the necessary expenses of Sir Frank Swettenham's visit. Under these circumstances, Mr. Chamberlain trusts that their Lordships will see no objection to those expenses being defrayed out of Imperial funds. The expenses will, it is hoped, be very small, and their Lordships will no doubt agree as to the advantage of having guidance in the matter from a colonial officer of high standing.
I am to explain that for various reasons it is not thought desirable to attach Wei-hai-Wei for administrative purposes to Hong Kong, and therefore it was thought better, especially as the Hong Kong officers have great pressure of work at the present time in connection with the extension of the colony, to send an officer from the Malay peninsula. Sir F. Swettenham's approaching leave of absence greatly facilitated the
matter.
5. Although Mr. Chamberlain hopes that there will be no undue delay in the establishment of civil government at Wei-hai Wei, he must await Sir Frank Swettenham's report before deciding upon the necessary details, and the time for formally taking over the administration will not come for two or three months at least. It is right, however,
to state that, especially as under existing political arrangements customs duties will apparently not be available, Mr. Chamberlain anticipates that it will be necessary to ask their Lordships to make some advance or grant on account of unavoidable expenses. On this point, however, he proposes to communicate hereafter with their Lordships, when Sir Frank Swettenham has reached this country, and made his report.
I am, &c.,
* 34757: not printed.
↑ Nos. 21, 22, and 24.
C. P. LUCAS.
}
9143.
SIR,
No. 26.
WAR OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.
(Received March 22, 1900.)
[Answered by No. 29.]
War Office, London, S.W., March 21, 1900. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for War to refer to War Office letter dated the 2nd instant," on the subject of the Civil Administration of Wei-hai Wei, and in this connection to forward, for the information of Mr. Chamberlain, a copy of the Military. Commissioner's letter dated the 21st November last, No. 95, and a copy of the War Office reply thereto dated the 10th January last, Wei-hai Wei, 8/31.
2. I am to enquire whether Mr. Chamberlain concurs in the view taken by the Secretary of State for War in paragraph 2 of the last named letter, of the incidence of charge of the buildings in question, and of the necessity for their provision; and to add that Lord Lansdowne will be glad to be informed of any action which Mr. Secretary Chamberlain may desire should be taken in the matter; more especially as regards the provision of funds for the services under reference.
SIR,
I am, &c.,
G. FLEETWOOD WILSON.
Enclosure 1 in No. 26.
From the CoMMISSIONER, Wei-hai Wei, to the UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR, War Office.
Lands.
Wei-hai Wei, Liu-kung-tao. War Department property. Probable revenue from, and proposals as to up-keep. (No. 95.)
Wei-hai Wei, November 21, 1899.
I HAVE the honour to inform you that a careful examination has now been made of the War Department house property on the island of Liu-kung, and I estimate that when necessary repairs and improvements are carried out, the probable revenue to be derived from rents will amount to $450 per mensem, or £540 per annum.
2. A sum of about £800 is required for the repairs and improvements necessary, and
is not properly chargeable to Barracks or Fortification Loan Funds. The services include the provision of quarters for the inspector of police and constables, prisoners' yard and cells, alterations of existing buildings to suit requirements of European civilian tenants, and repair or demolition of huts in the native villages.
• No. 16.
5858