CO882-(4-5) — Page 637

291

a course would probably affect the work of the mission in the future, it should be avoided if possible. I at the same time requested the Major-General Commanding to issue instructions to Lieutenant-Colonel The O'Gorman to afford protection to the Basel Missions if he was satisfied on application being made that such protection was absolutely necessary. I also telegraphed to Her Majesty's Consul at Canton request- ing him to inform the Viceroy that if he was not prepared to effectually protect the missions I would do so.

•

4. I enclose copies of the correspondence. I have to-day received a letter from the Reverend Mr. Bender, the head of the Basel Mission, a copy of which is enclosed, and which seems to show that there is no pressing danger at present.

I have, &c.,

HENRY A. BLAKE,

Governor, &c.

Enclosure 1 in No.-215,

(No. 81.)

SIR,

British Consulate, Canton, June 5, 1899.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge receipt of His Excellency the Governor's telegram of the 3rd instant, enquiring if any steps had been taken by the Viceroy for the protection of the Basel Mission, and stating that, if not, His Excellency the Gover- nor would himself take the required action.

This telegram having been embodied in a note to the Viceroy has elicited the reply, translation of which I have the honour to enclose.

your

The Honourable

SIR,

Downing Street, July 8, 1899. I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain to acknowledge the receipt of letter of the 16th ultimo,† enclosing copy of correspondence relating to the operations of Her Majesty's naval forces in connection with the taking over of the newly-leased territory at Hong Kong.

睿

I am, &c.,

C. P. LUCAS.

17781.

No. 215.

GOVERNOR SIR H. A. BLAKE to MR. CHAMBERLAIN. (Received July 10, 1899.)

(No. 138.) SIR,

[Copy to Foreign Office, July 24, 1899. L.F.] [Answered by No. 227.]

Government House, Hong Kong, June 9, 1899. I HAVE the honour to report that on the 30th May, the Reverend Mr. Schaub, the Principal of the Basel Mission in the Tung-Kun district, north of Sham Chun, in- formed Lieutenant-Colonel The O'Gorman, who is in command of the troops in Sham- Chün Valley, that the inhabitants of Peng-Shen had issued a circular calling upon the people of the district to arm for the purpose of attacking the British troops, and that he and the other missionaries were alarmed, as he had reason to believe that an attack would also be made upon the Christian missions. He requested that I would apply to the Viceroy of Canton to send protection.

2. On the 31st I wrote to Her Majesty's Consul at Cantont enclosing a copy of the Reverend Mr. Schaub's letter for the Viceroy's information and requesting him to say to His Excellency that it would be painful to me if any attack upon the British troops or upon the German missions necessitated the movement of British troops to the

north.

3. On the 3rd June I had an interview with the Reverend Mr. Guzman of the Basel Mission here, who informed me that a similar statement had been made to the Principal here by the Reverend Mr. Schaub. I requested him to inform Mr. Schaub that if he could show the Officer in Command of Troops at Sham-Chün that there was pressing danger of attack, protection would be afforded, but I pointed out that as such

• No. 211.

↑ No. 190.

See Enclosure 2 in No. 208.

The Colonial Secretary,

Hong Kong.

From Viceroy Tan.

I have, &c.,

R. W. MANSFIELD,

Consil.

SIR,

June 4, 1800. I HAVE just received your note stating that the Governor of Hong Kong had enquired by telegraph whether steps had been taken for the protection of the Basel Mission.

In reply I beg to state that when I received your despatch the other day, I at once sent flying instructions to the civil and military authorities of the San On and Tung Kun districts, directing them to afford proper protection and to rigorously arrest and punish the desperadoes who contemplated the attack.

I beg you to inform the Governor of Hong Kong that I have sent further tele- graphic orders to the above effect.

(Card and compliments of Viceroy T'an.) (Translated by G. D. Pitzipios, Vice-Consul.)

(No. 82.)

Enclosure 2 in No. 215.

SIR,

British Consulate, Canton, June 6, 1899. In continuation of my No. 81 of yesterday, I have the honour to enclose a trans- lation of a further note from the Viceroy with regard to the steps taken for the protec- tion of the Basel Mission.

The Honourable

438

The Colonial Secretary, Hong Kong.

I have, &c.,

R. W. MANSFIELD,

Consul.

• See also Enclosures in No. 208.

101

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TTIC.O. 882

5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

292