PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
INTEC.O. 882
6 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
25733.
76
No. 54.
WAR OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.
(Received August 7, 1900.)
SIR,
War Office, Pall Mall, S.W., August 7, 1900. IN continuation of War Office letter of the 31st July, 1900,* forwarding corre- spondence on the subject of the allocation of sites for business premises and civilian residences on the island of Liu Kung, Wei-hai-Wei, I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to transmit, for the information of Mr. Secretary Chamberlain, "the enclosed copies of communications which have passed between the War Office and the Foreign Office and the War Office and the Military Commissioner on the subject of prospecting and mining at Wei-hai-Wei,
I am, &c.,
Enclosure 1 in No. 54.
G. FLEETWOOD WILSON,
MILITARY COMMISSIONER, Wei-hai-Wei, to the UNDER SECRETary of State for War.
TELEGRAM.
December 7, 1899. Many applications have been made for mineral mining rights. Delay in settlement means confusion hereafter. Prospectors, contrary to regulations, arranging with natives direct. May I sanction prospecting on payment of fees fixed by me, also purchase of land from natives, leaving mineral mining rights for settlement hereafter?
Land expensive, and therefore immediate purchases very small; extensive pro- specting rights applied for.
SIR,
Enclosure 2 in No. 54.
War Office, December 23, 1899.
I AM directed by the Secretary of State for War to transmit to you, for the in- formation of the Marquess of Salisbury, a copy of a telegram which has been received from the Military Commissioner, Wei-hai-Wei, on the subject of applications for mining rights within the leased territory.
2. It is proposed to cable the following reply:-
46
Referring to your telegram of 7th instant, await instructions as to mining and prospecting, and meanwhile refuse all applications for rights and sales of land by natives."
3. I am to request that the Marquess of Salisbury will be pleased to favour Lord Lansdowne with any observations he may wish to offer in the matter at the very carliest date.
The Under Secretary of State,
Foreign Office.
I am, &c.,
G. FLEETWOOD WILSON.
Enclosure 3 in No. 54.
Foreign Office, December
1899.
SIR.
I HAVE laid before the Marquess of Salisbury your letter marked " Works, Wei- hai-Wei, 8/25," of the 23rd instant, relative to applications for mining rights in the leased territory at Wei-hai-Wei.
Lord Salisbury nas no observations to make on this matter except that, as regards sales of land by natives to foreigners, he would suggest, for the consideration of the
• No. 53.
77
Secretary of State for War, that it might be advisable to give public notice that no such transactions will be recognised unless the transfer has been duly registered by the administrative authorities.
Such registration might be refused in all cases where the land which it was pro- posed to sell was intended for mining purposes.
The Under Secretary of State, War Office.
Enclosure 4 in No. 54.
I am, &c.,
F. II. VILLIERS.
MILITARY COMMISSIONER, Wei-hai-Wei, to the UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR. TELEGRAM.
June 11, 1900. Your telegram 5th January. Can I permit prospecting subject to rules made hereafter? No land will be purchased from natives.
SIR,
Enclosure 5 in No. 54.
War Office, July 27, 1900. WITH reference to your letter of the 12th June, 1900, G. 32, and previous cor- respondence, relative to prospecting and mining at Wei-hai-Wei, I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to inform you that, pending the transfer of the administra- tion of the territory to the Colonial Office, no permission whatever is to be given for any prospecting or mining, nor are any applicants for such licences to be in any way encouraged by the military administration, or the subsequent action of the Colonial Office in any way pledged or prejudiced.
2. Should that office subsequently consider that facilities in these respects may be granted, applications can then be dealt with on their merits, it being, of course, in- cumbent on the local military authority to keep a careful watch over the military and defensive requirements, which must not be allowed to be in any way impaired by any action which is proposed for purely civil purposes.
The Military Commissioner,
Wei-hai-Wei.
28859.
(No. 352.)
1 am, &c.,
G. HILDEBRAND, Deputy Inspector-General of Fortifications.
No. 55.
GOVERNOR SIR H. A. BLAKE to MR. CHAMBERLAIN. (Received September 3, 1900.)
[Answered by No. 72.]
SIB,
Government House, Hong Kong, August 2, 1900. I HAVE the honour to submit, for your consideration, the question of the ad- visability of making the British dollar legal tender at Wei-Hai-Wei. I am of opinion that in the interests of commerce this would be useful and convenient, and might be productive of much good in the commercial intercourse of north and south China. I understand that the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation has approached the Imperial Government on this matter already and I recommend the proposal for your favourable consideration.
I have, &c.,
HENRY A. BLAKE.
Governor, &c.
• See No. 56.