14335.
44
No. 37.
SIR C. MACDONALD (PEKING) to the MARQUESS OF SALISBURY.
(Sent 1.30 p.m., received 12.5
TELEGRAM.
p.m.,
May 9, 1900.)
No. 55. I have received the following telegram from the Commissioner, Wei-hai- wei, dated yesterday :-
"I have sent force, at the Governor's request, to try to relieve Chinese Commis- sioners, who are confined in Chinese territory. I hope that there will be no more fighting, as their relief would be dearly bought at the price of one villager's death, but that the Governor should send Chinese troops here to relieve them would be very inadvisable."
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offered them. They declined to accept it. Then Governor telegraphed to me to stop work. I replied that I would go to inspect situation.
4
On my way heard of attack on Penrose's escort. Apparently unarmed villagers had gathered round them, and when escort unprepared villagers produced arms and rushed forward shouting "Ta-ta" (strike). By luck Bower was near, and reinforce- ment arrived in time to prevent murder of escort. Penrose and four men wounded. Perevia slightly hurt. Next morning Watson's camp, close to village, where Chinese Commissioners were living, was attacked by 2,000 men, who opened fire about 800 yards distant. After one and a] half hour attack beaten off.
"I received information of capture of Chinese Commissioners and Governor's request for their release by telegraph from Chefoo Consul. Just received another telegram from him, stating that Governor also sent troops yesterday to relieve Com- missioners. I have [? taken steps] to avoid collision between the two forces, and believe our troops will effect relief. Force consists of marines and Chinese Regiment. Fleet expected to-day. Can then work with force powerful enough to overawe oppo- sition. Danger arises from people believing that we are annexing territory."
15188.
No. 38.
SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR to COLONEL DORWARD (WEI-HAI-WEI),
TELEGRAM.
War Office, May 10, 1900. Repeat your telegram of 7th instant to British Minister at Peking. Your action in continuing demarcation is approved. You are to proceed with it either with or without the Chinese officials.
14722.
No. 39.
SIR C. MACDONALD (PEKING) to the MARQUESS OF SALISBURY. (Received 10.30 p.m., May 10, 1900.)
May 10, 1900, 2 p.m.
TELEGRAM.
[Answered by No. 41.]
(No. 56.) My telegram, No. 55, of the 8th May.*
Further telegram from Dorward, dated yesterday:-
"On arrival, Chinese Commissioners called meeting of Headmen of British terri- tory without my permission. On discovering this, I insisted on being represented at meeting. They agreed, but held secret meetings. Being taxed with breach of faith, they said that subject was of no concern. I then named early date for Boundary Commissioners to start. Chinese Commissioners, after many frivolous excuses to delay, finally started on date named.
According to good evidence, following passed at secret meetings:-Commis- sioners told Headmen that area of country 30 li round Wei-hai-wei was to be demar- cated as British territory, but Great Britain had no jurisdiction over it or right to col- lect taxes. I telegraphed to Governor, suggesting [? tax] in both territories should be collected by Government territory in which village lay. He declined to consider question of taxation at present, and persisted in declining, although informed matter intimately connected with demarcation.
"Chinese Commissioners informed British when starting work that Governor's orders were to demarcate literally, according to Convention, whether the line passed through villages or not. I instructed British Commissioners to accept position, it being urgent that some line should be demarcated to denote British territory. All proceeded quietly for some days. Then British Commissioners' suspicion aroused by gathering of villagers [with whom] Chinese Commissioners held meetings. Then Chinese Com- missioners recommended stoppage of work for fear of trouble. British protection was
• No. 37.
14722.
No. 40.
SIR C. MACDONALD (PEKING) to the MARQUESS OF SALISBURY. (Sent 9 a.m., received 10 a.m., May 11, 1900.)
(Paraphrase.)
TELEGRAM.
[Answered by No. 41.]
any
No. 56 [57]. Following received from Commissioner, Wei-hai-wei:-
"The relief of the Chinese Commissioners has been carried out without
casualties. Our troops and Chinese troops did meet, but in a perfectly friendly manner. The Chinese Commissioners, having declined to con- tinue the demarcation of the boundary, are being escorted here by our troops. Greatly to be hoped that some Chinese official will accompany the British Commissioners in completing the demarcation. There is no need of hurry, but our troops must not be withdrawn from the frontier. The general outlook is reassuring enough."
15098.
No. 41.
THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY to Sm C. MACDONALD.
TELEGRAM.
[Answered by No. 43.]
Foreign Office, May 11, 1900, 7.30 p.m. No. 52. Your telegrams, Nos. 56 and 57 [of 10th and 11th May, Wei-hai-wei].* Inform Chinese Government, in reply to their communication, of facts of the case as given by Colonel Dorward, and say that when Her Majesty's Government have received complete information, they will consider how far they should hold Chinese Government responsible and therefore liable to reparation.
You should add that Colonel Dorward's action in continuing demarcation has been approved, and that he has been instructed to proceed with the work with or without Chinese co-operation.
Nos. 39 and 40.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
TILLC.O. 882
سائلنسيا
6
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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