60
>
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :--
TEENICO. 882/11
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
| ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE
BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
108
public utility schemes would produce any good result. Internal dissensions are, however, beginning to manifest themselves. Except in Kuang-tung, Bolshevik influence and prestige have suffered severely throughout the whole of China, even in extreme The high-handed policy of the Nationalist and student circles. Soviet Government and their threats to resort to force during the recent dispute on the Chinese Eastern Railway were much resented; while the failure of the extremists to profit by Chang Tso-lin's temporary collapse to set up a Communist Government in Manchuria caused a great deal of comment.
For these reasons I abide by the opinion expressed in my telegram No. 39*-to the effect that while attempts to reach a settlement locally should be continued if the rise to power of a moderate party in Cantort held out any prospect of success, we should await development of the growing dislike of the Bol- sheviks, and formation of an alliance of friendly militarists. In all probability the latter would take action against Canton as soon as they considered their strength sufficient.
Should you have occasion to justify before Parliament this policy of apparent inaction, I would suggest as an explanation that the policy, of the British Government has been governed by prin- ciples of reasonableness towards the Chinese people and sympathy with their legitimate aspirations. This accords with your speech of September 18th and your instructions to British Delegation to the Tariff Conference. Much good has already resulted from this policy of patient conciliation, insomuch as friendship and goodwill between the British and Chinese peoples have been very largely restored, and normal commercial relations have been resumed in all but a few areas in China. These areas, notable among which is the province of Kuang-tung, are subject to external influences violently and openly hostile to Great Britain.
You will doubtless take into consideration desirability of inti- mating whether patience in dealing with these unreasonable and irreconcilable elements may not ultimately become exhausted, and whether the British Government may not be compelled reluctantly to adopt a new policy towards them.-MACLEAY,
ENCLOSURE 4 IN NO. 7.
[TELEGRAM.]
From H.M. Consul-General, Canton to Foreign Office No. 5. (Despatched 2nd February, 1926, 2 p.m.)
Paraphrase.
Consultation with H.M. Minister and Governor of Hongkong being impossible at such short notice, I have been directed by
*Not printed.
109
former to comment independently on your telegram No. 35* to Peking. My comments are as follows:-
1. I deprecate war, which would leave legacy of hate and might unite rest of China.
2. No solution other than joint international action appears to me to be possible. It would be internationally impossible The to undertake independent action on the lines indicated. Cantonese have arrested British subjects and have prevented us from carrying on trade, thereby breaking most flagrantly both the letter and the spirit of the Treaties. I am decidedly. There of opinion that action under article 7 is called for. would be no difficulty about detaining Russian ships, but it must be borne in mind that essential commodities (e.g. rice and coal) are not transported in these vessels.
3. I do not think it desirable to depart from the policy of non-intervention. Kuang-tung has never had a better Government than the present one, and chaos would result from the entry of others on the scene. It is quite likely that Chiang may quarrel with the Bolshevists in the near future without outside influence.
4. I cannot express opinion.
5. Canton's demands on Hongkong are described in my despatch No. 46 of September 27th.† Hongkong will not agree to revision of its present Constitution, or dictation of a new one, by the Strike Committee. Latter have since made a further demand that Chinese coinage be allowed to circulate in Hongkong. The contention of the Canton Government that representatives of the Hongkong Government must negotiate here with the strikers direct, while they (the Canton Government) lend their services simply as mediators is humiliating. The aim of Canton is to abolish everything I favour comprised in the phrase unequal treaties." abandonment of fiction that Canton is controlled by Peking, and suggest that experiment might be tried of offering I question independent recognition to Canton Government. whether good would result from visit of Boxer Delegation. but shall make inquiries. I am inclined to favour suggested offer of grant. Repeated to Peking No. 9.-Jamieson.
C.6565/26.
No. 8.
The Governor of Hongkong to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
No. 72.
SIR,
(Received 22nd March, 1926.)
Government House, Hongkong, 18th February, 1926.
I have the honour to forward for your information a chrono- logical summary of the incidents" that have occurred on the
+ Not printed.
Enclosure 1.
Page 60Page 61
61
السلسا
. PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O.882/11
|ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
110
New Territories Frontier since June, 1925. They mark a breach in the generally peaceful relations obtaining since the lease of the New Territories in 1898, attributable only to the activities of the strike pickets which, under the direction of the Strikers' Com- mittee in Canton, have been posted on the Frontier to prevent trade with British Territory.
2. Many of the incidents are clearly attributable directly to the pickets themselves acting under instructions: for a number of others the pickets are no doubt equally responsible: while less directly the conditions they have established offer opportunities which robbers and brigands have not been slow to seize.
3. The whole state of lawlessness evidenced by the list of out- rages may, therefore, justly be laid at the door of the present Government of Canton: which, if it does not actively assist the pickets, at the least condones this systematic and open attack on trade with British territory.
4. The circumstances constitute a wholesale violation of the spirit of the Treaty of Nanking as expressed in Article I. The connivance of the Canton Government with this defiance of Treaty rights is a conclusion it is impossible to avoid and in the absence of any responsible governmental control in China there is no immediate reason to expect an end to this interference with normal conditions of life on the Frontier.
5. This despatch complements my despatch No. 71 of the 18th February* in which I have set out in detail Treaty conditions violated by the present Government of Canton.
6. I am sending a copy of this despatch to His Majesty's Minister at Peking and His Majesty's Consul-General at Canton.
I have, &c.,
ENCLOSURE IN No. 8.
C. CLEMENTI,
Governor, &c.
Frontier Incidents.--Chronological Summary.
1. On July 5th, a seaman of the Water Police, named Tang San (No. 94) left the police motor-boat at Lok Ma Chau and went over to Sham Chun (Chinese Territory) to buy food, according to his usual practice. While there he was seized by a gang of unarmed men, and imprisoned. He was subsequently sent to Canton and there imprisoned at the Supervisory Bureau for over a fortnight. He was released, but told that he must not leave Canton. A day or two later he managed to effect his escape and
• No. 9.
111
make his way to Sham Chun. With the assistance of a friend he was able to evade the pickets and on August 1st to return to duty at Lok Ma Chau.
2. On July 14th a butcher took a boat-load of seven pigs from Tai Po Market (British Territory) to British Sha Tau Kok. He landed on the beach on the British side of the frontier and drove the pigs to the railway station. When they had been put on to a truck a party of about 20 armed Chinese suddenly appeared, seized the pigs and the man in charge, and took them away into Chinese territory.
3. On July 16th a party of eight Chinese women, carrying baskets of fruit, started to cross the Sham Chun River by the Man Kam To Ferry near Lok Ma Chau. A labour picket ordered them to return, and upon their refusal to obey the order. opened fire. One woman was killed instantaneously and another mortally wounded. Two jumped into the river and were drowned and three were arrested and subsequently sent to Canton. The surviving member of the party was the daughter of the wounded woman, and was allowed by the picket to carry her mother to the nearest village for the purpose of obtaining assistance.
4. On July 27th the Assistant Superintendent of Police, New Territories, reported as follows:-
4
'Yesterday afternoon, 26th July, 1925, about 300 Cadets in charge of Russian officers were seen lining the Chinese side of the Sham Chun River, between Lo Fong and Ta Ku Ling Bridge. They appeared to be employed in preventing all persons from entering British Territory. They remained there until dusk and then returned to Sham Chun.
I gave orders for a military and a police picket to keep them under discreet observation, but nothing untoward happened; no attempt being made by the Cadets to trespass on our terri- tory.
5. On July 30th the Assistant Superintendent of Police, New Territories, reported as follows:-
"There are about 70 Cadets, in charge of Russian officers, quartered in Chinese Lin Ma Hang, north of Ta Ku Ling. They are there evidently to prevent the conveyance of cattle and foodstuffs over the Sha Wan Gap."
"Lance-Sergeant Knowles reports that 40 Cadets arrived yesterday (July 29th)in Chinese Sha Tau Kok, and that they are all Northerners."
6. On July 30th, at about 6.45 p.m., a Hongkong Chinese police sergeant arrested a man in British Territory carrying two tins of kerosene oil towards the frontier. In answer to questions the man stated that he was taking the oil to Sham Chun (Chinese Territory). He was arrested and handed over to a police patrol with instructions that he was to be taken to Ta Ku Ling station.