120
battalion were here. But if that European battalion is broken up, as at present, by half the battalion being at Peking and Tientsin, then I should fight to the death against the half battalion left here being still further depleted.
Non-European or Native Troops.—I would raise nò objection to your having one company of any Native Regiment quartered here.
26582
W. J. GASCOIGNE.
MR. CHAMBERLAIN to COMMISSIONER LOCKHART.
No. 109.
[Answered by No. 128.]
121
the leased territory; and that on his satisfying you that the line to be constructed is bond file intended to connect with a line outside the leased territory, for which a concession has been properly obtained from the Chinese authorities, the question of the terms on which the concession for the line within the leased territory may be given can be discussed between you.
4. You should be careful, however, not to bind the Government to any specific terms without my sanction being first obtained; and His Majesty's Minister at Peking -hould be kept fully informed of any proposals which may be submitted, and any terms which you may agree to submit for my approval.
I have, &c.,
J. CHAMBERLAIN.
(No. 28.)
SIR,
Downing Street, July 31, 1902. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 22, of the 13th of May last,* enclosing the draft of an Ordinance to provide for the peace and good order of the territories of Wei-Jai-Wei.
2. You have not, perhaps, observed the far-reaching character of the differences which Clause 3 of this draft presents when compared with section 3 of the Hong Kong Ordinance, No. 12, of 1899. If the Ordinance were passed as it stands there would be hardly any necessity for any further legislation in Wei-Hai-Wei at all, as all matters could be dealt with by simple regulation. I need not point out that in this manner the objects of the last three subsections of section 9 of the Wei-Hai-Wei Order in Conncil, 1901, would be entirely defeated.
3. There does not appear to be any special convenience attaching to this method of legislation by regulation, as under subsection 1 of section 9 of the Order in Council the Commissioner is in a position to make and proclaim Ordinances (subject, of course, His Majesty's disallowance) without interference other than the control of the Secretary of State.
4. I consider, therefore, that while Regulations may, after a time, be useful in dealing with purely minor matters, for the present, at any rate, legislation should be confined to Ordinances which will be submitted in the ordinary course to the Secretary of State.
5. I have no objection to the enactment of the provisions of the Hong Kong Ordinance, No. 40, of 1899, as a separate Ordinance, provided that its operation is, as in Hong Kong, limited to two years, and is, like that Ordinance, confined to persons of Chinese race; but the penalties imposed by the Hong Kong Ordinance must not bo exceeded in any legislation for Wei-Hai-Wei.
6. With regard to the orders mentioned in paragraph 1 of your despatch under acknowledgment, you should pass a single validating Ordinance legalising all action previously taken under them.
I have, &c..
'J. C'HAMBERLAIN.
29218
FIR,
No. 111.
COLONIAL OFFICE to WAR OFFICE.
[Answered by No. 114x.]
Downing Street, August 18, 1902. I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain to transmit to you, for the consideration of Mr. Secretary Brodrick, copies of two despatches* from the Com missioner of Wei-hai-Wei, on the subject of the establishment of a Police Force and the maintenance of a garrison in that Dependency.
2. Mr. Chamberlain has no desire to cancel the arrangement which has been agreed upon, that the Chinese Regiment should be disbanded and the lands and buildings now in the possession of the Military Authorities should be handed over to the Civil Government, but, at the same time, if Mr. Brodrick considers that it might be well to keep a detachment of the Hong-Kong garrison at Wei-hai-Wei, treating that place as a sanitorium and as a recruiting ground, in the event of Chinese soldiers being employed hereafter, he is prepared to entertain the proposal. 3. As Sir A. Dorward, the late Commissioner, is now in this country, Me Brodrick may think fit to ascertain his views on the subject.
4. Mr. Brodrick will observe that in the 17th paragraph of the earlier de spatch, Mr. Lockhart asks that the services of Captain Johnson may be retained at Wei-hai-Wei, as he is the officer of the Chinese Regiment most conversant with Chinese. If this request is entertained, there is no likelihood of the services of Captain Stoddart, to whom reference was made in your letter of the 31st ultimo,f being required, since even if the Police Force is raised to a greater strength than Mr. Lockhart at present contemplates, it would hardly be possible to find employ - ment in it for two officers of the rank of captain.
5. Mr. Chamberlain would be glad to receive a reply to this letter at Mr Brodrick's early convenience.
I am, &c.,
C. P. LUCAS
30484
No. 110.
35331
No. 111A.
MR. CHAMBERLAIN to COMMISSIONER LOCKHART.
(Confidential.)
Downing Street, July 31, 1902,
SIR,
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your confidential despatch of the 15th May last,† forwarding a letter from Mr. L. F. Bridges, enquiring whether ights can be granted for the construction of a railway from Wei-hai-Wei Bay to the boundary of the leased territory, in a direction towards Chefoo; and asking that in the event of such a concession being allowed his name may be noted as first applicant. 2. I communicated your despatch to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in a letter‡ a copy of which is enclosed, and I enclose a copy of his reply, in which 1 concur.
3. Mr. Bridges may be informed that there is no political objection on the part His Majesty's Government to the construction of a railway line to the frontier of
§ No. 101.
• No. 98.
↑ No. 97.
* No. 99.
(Confidential.)
ADMIRALTY to C'OLONIAL OFFICE.
(Received August 25, 1902.)
SIR,
Admiralty, August 22, 1902. Wird reference to your letter of the 29th ultimo,‡ No. 22815, I am com- manded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to request, you will inform the Secretary of State that the Commander-in-Chief on the China Station has been instructed to report what should, in his opinion, be the strength of the Marine Detachment at Wei-hai-Wei, in view of the new arrangements which are being made at that place.
I am, &c.,
II. J. VAN SITTART NEALE
1
Nos. 102 al 108.
† Not printed.
+ No. 107A.
9641
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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