CO882-(8-9) — Page 56

Printed Confidentially for the use of the Colonial Office.

Eastern No. 100.

WEIHAIWEI.

CONFIDENTIAL MEMORANDUM.

Since memorandum Eastern No. 88 was written, two annual reports on Weihaiwei have been pub- lished, showing steady and satisfactory progress. That progress, the Commissioner is never tired of telling us, is retarded by uncertainty as to tenure, which prevents merchants from investing in the territory, but the following figures show that the revenue is steadily going up, and the grant-in-aid steadily coming down:-

1901-2

1902-3

1903-4

1904-5

1905-6 (Estimate)

Bevense.

Expenditure. Grant-in-aid.

£

22,220

(Not known.)

$

11,250

36,991

104,890

12,000

58.384

186,921

9,000

90,415

162,282

8,000

*70,161

153,506

3,000

།།།།།།

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

པ}

Reference :-

C.O. 882

• Revised Estimate of Revenme, $100,000.

From the Colonial Office point of view there is nothing to be said for giving up the place, and everything to be said against it.

No military or naval expenditure is asked for, unless it be a few troops-fewer than the present Chinese battalion, if local requirements only are regarded. If the doubts now felt as to the per- manency of British tenure can be set at rest, there can be no question that the dependency will

pay

ite way almost immediately. If it does not, at any time Hong Kong will readily take over the charge from the Imperial Government.

To give this place up would be to offend Japan, to earn no thanks from China, to deprive British civilians, soldiers, and sailors of an acknowledged health resort, to relinquish a very fine natural harbour which costs nothing, to leave Germany alone among European Powers in North China, to weaken our position throughout these seas, having once more, as in the case of Port Hamilton, come and

do not ask for any fortifications or Imperial expenditure. We ask for a pronouncement that wo are going to stay and will see to the rest.

8th November 1905.

O. P. L

E 40199.

80—11/08. Pk. 14. E. & 8.

8 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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