PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference:--
C.O. 882
9570
SIR,
(No. 9.)
136
No. 152.
COMMISSIONER LOCKHART to MR. CHAMBERLAIN.
(Received March 13, 1903.)
[Answered by No. 156.]
Government House, Port Edward,
Wei-hai-Wei, February 2, 1903. WITH reference to my despatch, No. 66 of the 8th December last,* and your telegram of the 30th ultimo,t I have the honour to inform you that I propose to leave for Kiaochou in the middle of April next and to be absent from Wei-hai-Wei about a month.
2. Major Bruce, the Officer Commanding the Chinese Regiment, will probably be the Senior Military Officer during my absence.
3. I had not failed to notice that under the Order-in-Council the adminis- tration of the Government devolves upon the Senior Military Officer if there be not in the territories any person appointed to administer by any instrument under His Majesty's Sign Manual and Signet, but I had hoped that arrangements would have been made enabling the Secretary to Government to act for the Commissioner before I proceeded on my journey.
4. In my despatch, No. 32 of the 16th June last, recommending the appoint- ment of a Secretary to Government, I pointed out the importance of having an officer here possessed of local knowledge and experience to take the place of the Com- missioner during his absence, and though it happens that the present Senior Military Officer does possess the necessary knowledge and experience, it is quite probable that in future such may not be the case. I am, therefore, strongly of opinion that the interests of the public service will be best served by arranging for the Secretary to Government to administer the affairs of this Dependency "in the event of the death, incapacity, removal or absence" of the Commissioner for the time being.
157
however, be called upon to discharge ordinary police duties under the civil admin- istration.
4. As to the strength of the police force which Mr. Lockhart proposes, Mr. Chamberlain's only doubt is whether it will be sufficient for the purpose, in view of the scale on which it has usually been found necessary to maintain the police forces in the Eastern Colonies, but he considers that the Commissioner's proposals should be given a trial during 1903-4.
5. Under these circumstances it is hoped that their Lordships will see their way to approve Mr. Lockhart's proposals.
10076
SIR,
No. 154.
I am, &c.,
C. P. LUCAS.
MR. CHAMBERLAIN to COMMISSIONER LOCKHART. (No. 15.)
Downing Street, March 20, 1903.
I HAVE the honour to transmit, for your information and guidance, copies of an Order of His Majesty in Council,* dated the 12th instant, and entitled "The Wei-hai-Wei Order in Council, 1901, Amendment Order, 1903.”
2. The purpose of this Order in Council is to give effect to the suggestion made in your despatch, No. 36, of the 14th July last.f by enabling you to appoint an officer to act as a Magistrate for any district of Wei-hai-Wei, subject to and pending the confirmation of the appointment by the Secretary of State.
3. I request that you will take steps for the publication of this Order in Council at Wei-hai-Wei.
I have, &c.,
J. CHAMBERLAIN.
I have, &c.,
J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,
Commissioner.
10930
No. 155.
6
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
9411
No. 153.
COLONIAL OFFICE to TREASURY.
[Answered by No. 155.]
SIR,
Downing Street, March 16, 1903. I AM directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 11th instant, § in regard to the Commissioner's proposals for the establishment of a civil police force at Wei-hai-Wei, and to request you to refer the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury to the latter part of Mr. Lockhart's despatch, No. 29, of the 5th June last, copy of which was enclosed in the letter from this office of the 7th ultimo,¶ and to paragraph 8 of Mr. Lockhart's despatch, No. 60, of the 27th October,** copy of which was enclosed in the letter from this office of the 3rd January last.tt
2. It will be seen from these despatches that in framing his proposals for a police force Mr. Lockhart assumed that a garrison would be retained at Wei-hai- Wei, and I am to add that when he wrote his despatch, No. 67, of the 15th Decem- ber last,‡‡ a copy of which was enclosed in the letter of the 7th ultimo,¶ referred to above, a telegram from the War Office implying that four companies of the Chinese Regiment would be retained at Wei-hai-Wei had been communicated to him by the Officer Commanding the Troops.
3. It appears to Mr. Chamberlain that the presence of these companies of the Chinese Regiment will dispense with the necessity of maintaining a large civil police force, especially in view of the system contemplated by Mr. Lockhart, under which the policing of the mainland will be carried out, as far as possible, through the village headmen. The officers and men of the Chinese Regiment could not possibly,
SIR,
TREASURY to COLONIAL OFFICE.
(Received March 24, 1903.)
[Answered March 28, 1903, by 10930: not printed.]
Treasury Chambers, March 23, 1903.
I AM directed by the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. Lucas's letter, No. 9,411, of the 16th instant, further with regard to the Civil Police Force at Wei-hai-Wei; and, in reply, I am to request you to inform Mr. Secretary Chamberlain that, while their Lordships acquiesce in a year's trial being given to the Commissioner's proposals, they will be glad to receive, before the 1904/5 Estimates are under consideration, a further expression of the views of the Secretary of State upon the subject, regard being had to the experience to be gained and to the retention of the North China Garrison.
9570
No. 156.
I am, &c.,
FRANCIS MOWATT.
MR. CHAMBERLAIN to COMMISSIONER LOCKHART.
(Confidential.)
Downing Street, March 25, 1903.
SIR,
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 9 of the 2nd ultimo,§ informing me that you propose to leave Wei-hai-Wei for Kinochou in the middle of April next, and to be absent about a month, and that Major Bruce will probably be the Senior Military Officer during your absence.
• No. 139.
† No. 142.
‡ No. 106.
i No 131.
| No. 102.
No. 146.
** No. 135.
t↑ No. 138.
‡‡ No. 141.
• Not reprinted.
2841
↑ No. 112.
‡ No. 153.
No. 152.