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C.O. 882

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the officers Fang and Shen, who came to Canton, to the effect that the people of the district were disaffected, and that it was to be feared that they would make trouble with the foreign soldiers. I at once ordered the two officers to hasten to the spot and suitably admonish the people.

In conjunction with the Governor of Kuangtung, I have issued a strong Pro- clamation for the instruction of the people, and quoting the terms of the Convention for the lease of the territory. This has been seen by everybody. The Proclamation also stated that the English would certainly not ill-treat the Chinese population of the exten- sion district, and enjoined upon the people, both of the leased territory and the adjoin- ing district, to quietly pursue their callings and not to make disturbances.

"On the 15th April, however, the English sent soldiers to erect a flagpole, and the people drew up in array on the hills and fought with the English troops. The Governor of Hong Kong suspected that they were regular troops from the fact that they had guns, cannon, and uniforms. He was not aware that the villagers of Kuangtung, in their constant fights with each other, are always erecting forts, and use guns and cannon, and wear uniforms. This is a matter of common notoriety.

"I have now again given orders to the officers above mentioned to proceed in dif- ferent directions and put a stop to these proceedings, so that there can be no disturb-

ance."

On the 20th April the Yamên received another telegram from the Governor- General as follows:-

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"Of the soldiers sent at the request of the Governor of Hong Kong for protection, 300 were stationed at the Custom-house and 300 at Samchun. These men and the garrison of Mirs Bay were far distant from Tai-po-hu. At the time of the disturbance raised by the people the soldiers had made no move. Of late many of the defence forces of the various villages have prepared for themselves flags and uniforms, and it is im- possible to distinguish them (from soldiers). Nothing happened on the 17th and 18th April, and they may have dispersed."

We (the Yamên) have the honour to send you a copy of these telegrams from the Governor-General of Canton for your information, and to request you to telegraph to Her Majesty's Government, begging them to bear in mind the friendly way in which the territory was ceded by China and not to be deceived by false rumours.

On the 20th instant, when you came to the Yamên, you mentioned. that the Gover- nor of Hong Kong had requested the Governor-General of Canton to withdraw the troops he had lately sent, and that the Governor-General was not willing to do so.

We have telegraphed to the Governor-General to withdraw these troops immediately.

(Cards of Yamên Prince and Ministers.)

Mr. BAX-IRONSIDE to the TSUNG-LI YAMEN.

MM. LES MINISTRES,

Peking, May 1, 1899. On the 29th April, at an interview with Your Excellencies, I had the honour to convey a message from Her Majesty's Government with reference to recent occurrences in the Hong Kong extension.

I subsequently telegraphed to Her Majesty's Government the substance of Your Excellencies' remarks in reply, and I have now received a telegram from Her Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, instructing me to inform Your Highness and Your Excellencies that unless proper tonsideration be given by the Chinese Government to the representations of Her Majesty's Government, Her Majesty's Government will be obliged to conclude that the Chinese Government are ignorant of, and have no control over, the proceedings of the Governor-General of Canton and the local authorities, and Her Majesty's Government will deal locally with the question at issue in regard to the Hong Kong Extension without reference to the Peking Government.

I avail, &c.,

(No. 18.) SIR,

Consul MANSFIELD to Mr. BAX-IRONSIDE.

H. O. BAX-IRONSIDE

Canton, April 20, 1899.

I HAVE the honour to report the details of the action taken during the last few days by this Consulate in connection with the assumption of British jurisdiction over the new territory at Kowloon.

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On the 15th instant I left for Hong Kong, upon the invitation of His Excellency the Governor, to be present at the ceremonies attendant upon the hoisting of the British flag upon

the day first appointed, namely, the 17th instant.

the morning of the 16th, Mr. Pitzipios received the following telegram from his Excellency the Governor of Hong Kong:-

"Message received from officer commanding 100 men Hong Kong Regiment, sent to Tai-po-hu to-day to prepare for Monday's ceremony of hoisting the British flag, that be found 1,000 Chinese troops with battery of field artillery; later message that Chinese troops opened fire. Request from Viceroy immediate answer whether these troops are regular forces or not; if they are, it is an act of war. I have sent ample reinforcements. I will hoist Brush flag to-morrow. Inform Viceroy all Chinese authorities and soldiers in our territory must be removed at once."

Mr. Pitzipios, accompanied by Mr. Assistant Higgs, at once left for the Viceroy's Yamên, and had an interview, lasting about an hour, with that official, the result of which was summarised in the following telegram, despatched on his return, to His Ex- cellency the Governor :-

Just returned from interview with Viceroy, who denied that aggressors were regular forces. As regards hoisting British flag, Viceroy says please yourself,' but absolutely refuses to remove Customs officers and other officials. Said that soldiers would leave in due course when territory was taken over. Refused to send orders, telegraphic or otherwise."

Mr. Pitzipios characterized the Viceroy's whole tone and demeanour as obstinate, discourteous, and generally unsatisfactory.

In the afternoon of the same day the following telegram was received from His Excellency the Governor

Inform Viceroy British flag hoisted. Request immediate removal of every Chinese official and soldier from any leased territories except customs-house.”

This was at once embodied in a note and sent to the Viceroy. The messenger re- turned during dinner time, and stated that the Viceroy had read the note and declined The following telegram was accordingly despatched to His Excellency the Governor at 8 a.m. on the 17th, as the telegraph office declined to transmit it on the preceding evening:-

to answer.

Last telegram received at once communicated to Viceroy, who sent verbal com- munication that he declined to send reply. No hope of action on part of Viceroy."

But the Viceroy afterwards reconsidered his refusal to reply, for in the afternoon of the 17th he sent a note declining to remove the officials on the strength of the Con- vention between Her Majesty's Minister and the Tsung-li Yamên, and stating that the 600 soldiers had been dispatched at the Governor's request. (He omitted to state that he had sent another 300 to prevent the removal of the customs, though at the interview with Mr. Pitzipios he admitted having done so upon the receipt of a telegram from Mr. Hillier, the Commissioner of Customs at Kowloon, stating that there would be no means of preventing smuggling after the 17th.) A translation of the above note was sent to His Excellency the Governor.

- I returned to Canton on the afternoon of the 18th, having heard rumours of im- pending trouble while I was in Hong Kong. Upon my return I found that nothing was known about them here. Among other things, it was reported that some of the Black Flags were in co-operation with the insurgents. I have since ascertained that the whole force, some 2,000 strong, is still in Canton.

•

Yesterday afternoon I received indirectly a Chinese document, consisting of a few sentences hastily pencilled on a rough scrap of paper, purporting to be the general tenour of a telegram sent by the Viceroy to the Commandants of the forts along the coast. The text, said to have been jotted down from memory, was as follows:-

If any British men-of-war, numbering more than three, unauthorisedly enter the harbour, then, no matter whether they break into the interior or not, resolutely open fire on them.

Lay in a sufficient stock of ammunition.

Be extra careful to strictly warn (the soldiers), and do not allow them to leave the camp."

I have forwarded original and translation of the above to His Excellency the Governor, with a request that he will inform the Commodore.

I have, &c.,

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R. W. MANSFIELD.

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