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continued presence of Chinese soldiers in Kowloon city, and the draft of a telegram which the Secretary of State for the Colonies proposes to send to Sir Henry Blake in reply.

I am directed by Lord Salisbury to refer you to my letter of yesterday, inclosing a telegram sent to Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking on the 26th instant, in which he was instructed to make representations to the Chinese Government in regard to the recent disturbances in the territory leased to Great Britain and to the proceedings of the Chinese authorities and troops.

Lord Salisbury is of opinion that it would be advisable to await the result of Mr. Bax-Ironside's representations before making any further communication to the Chinese Government in this matter, so as to obviate a confusion such as resulted in the question between Italy and China from overlapping communications to the Tsungli Yamên.

Lord Salisbury would suggest that the proposed telegraphic instruction to the Governor of Hong Kong should also be deferred.

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Certainly people are dissatisfied at this and have determined to resist the barbarians. If our firearms are not good we shall be unable to oppose the enemy. So we have appointed an exercise ground and gathered all together as patriots to drill with firearms. To encourage proficiency rewards will be given. On the one hand we shall be helping the Government; on the other we shall be saving ourselves from future trouble. Let all our friends and relatives bring their firearins to the ground and do what they can to extirpate the traitors. Our ancestors will be pleased, and so will, our neighbours. This is our sincere wish. Practice takes place every day.

First prize-One gauze coat, a packet of 1,000 crackers.

Second prize-One pair of brown gauze trousers, packet of 500 crackers. Third prize-One straw hat.

A placard issued by the Yuk-on Hin (" Wish for peace" library) of Péng Shán.

10773

I am, &c.,

FRANCIS BERTIE.

007

No. 136.

No. 134.

MR. CHAMBERLAIN to GOVERNOR SIB H. A. BLAKE. (Sent 4.30 p.m., April 29, 1899.)

TELEGRAM.

In answer to your telegram of 26th April,† strong representations being made to Chinese Government. Further instructions will be sent as soon as possible.

10821.

(No. 82.) SIB,

No. 135.

GOVERNOR SIR H. A. BLAKE to MR. CHAMBERLAIN.

(Received May 1, 1899.)

[Acknowledged by No. 169.]

Government House, Hong Kong, April 1, 1899. I HAVE this momenta quarter of an hour before the starting of the mail- received a report that the party sent by the Public Works Department to erect the posts on the boundaries settled upon by the Chinese Commissioner and Mr. Lockhart were stopped by the people, who informed the party that if they attempted to erect a post they would kill them. The party returned. At the same time I received from Mr. Wei Yuk, a member of the Legislative Council, a copy of a placard that has been posted in the district to be taken over, the translation of which I enclose.

2. It is of the highest importance that this movement shall be nipped in the bud. I have determined to proceed to Canton to-day to see the Viceroy and induce him to send troops forthwith to secure and punish the ringleaders and to protect the parties sent in to erect the posts. If this be not done there may be serious trouble. Should I not be successful in having it done I shall probably proceed to take over possession without further delay.

[Translation.]

I have, &c..

HENRY A. BLAKE.

Enclosure in No. 135.

COPT OF PROclamation,

We hate the English barbarians, who are about to enter our boundaries and take our land, and will cause us endless evil. Day and night we fear the approaching danger.

† No. 127.

• No. 131.

(Confidential.)

FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.

(Received May 2, 1899.).

SIR,

Foreign Office, May 1, 1899. WITH reference to my letter of the 27th ultimo, I am directed by the Marquess of Salisbury to transmit to you, for the information of Mr. Secretary Chamberlain, a copy of a telegram from Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking reporting the result of the representations made by him to the Tsung-li-Yamên with regard to recent occurrences at Kowloon.

Lord Salisbury has instructed. Mr. Bax-Ironside in reply to make a communication to the Chinese Government to the effect that unless proper consideration be given to his representations, Her Majesty's Government must conclude that the Tsung-li-Yamên are ignorant of, and have no control over, the proceedings of the Viceroy of Canton and local authorities, and that Her Majesty's Government will deal locally with the matters at issue in regard to the Convention for the Hong Kong extension, without reference to the Government at Peking.

I am, &c.,

Enclosure in No. 136.

FRANCIS BERTIE

Paraphrase of a TELEGRAM from Ma. BAX-IRONSIDE, Peking. D. 8.45 a.m., R. 8.30 a.m., April 30, 1899.

April 30. No. 116. Yamên denied indignantly, at interview yestervlay, that Chinese authorities were responsible for attacks on British troops by local mob. Such mobs in Southern China constantly used military clothing and false flags. Three hundred Chinese troops had been sent to Kowloon, and three hundred to Sham Chan-- both places distant from place of conflict-on request of Hong Kong Government that order should be maintained in the district. As soon as we had requested their withdrawal. orders to that effect had been sent to Viceroy by Yamên. None of the troops had taken part in the attacks, which Viceroy reported to be the act of (Pdisaffected) populace. They questioned the authenticity of the alleged instructions to Commandàrit, Comat Forts, from Viceroy. Yamên maintained China had given us no just cause whatever for demanding satisfaction. They received your message with excitement and anger.

• No. 131.

T། ། ། །

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference—

C.O. 882

5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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