CO882-6 — Page 148

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TLC.O. 882

6

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

Engineering Establishment:—

72

£

s. d.

Allowance to Officer Commanding Royal Engi-

neers

200 0 0

400 0 0

Allowance to Officer Commanding Royal Engi-

neer Division, Royal Engineer Office (mainland) 200 0 0 Two (discharged) non-commissioned officers of

Royal Engineers, at £200 each, as overseers Four Native Assistants, at $8 per mensem Two Native Interpreters, at $40 per mensem Two Overseers' Allowances:--

Travelling

Fuel and light

Forage

Total

Commissioner's Civil Establishment

40 0

OOO

0

96 0 0

298 299

100 0 0

40

Ooo

0

OOO

0

36 0 0

£1,112 0 0

1,104 0 0

Engineering Establishment ...

1,112 0 0

Mr. Schaller (Interpreter to Chinese Regiment, salary £600), contribution to his salary by Civil Government Lieutenant-Colonel Bower, contribution

Grand total

200 0 100 0 0

£2,516 0 0

0

Enclosure K.

PRELIMINARY PRECAUTIONS to be taken to prevent disturbances in the Weihaiwei

District.

1. Request British Minister to ask Chinese Foreign Office to instruct the Governor of Shantung to issue a Governor's Proclamation explaining to Weihaiwei people that the country has been ceded to England by Emperor of China, within the boundaries set forth, excepting the walled city of Weihaiwel, which is to remain under Chinese jurisdiction; that after such and such a day the English Government will, administer the ceded territory; that it is agreed in the Convention between the two countries that no Chinese people will be compelled to remove from it, and that they will be treated kindly and justly, and that they will be allowed to carry on their busi- ness and occupations as usual, and that their customs and religion will not be inter- fered with, and that they now owe allegiance to Her Majesty the Queen, and must therefore obey the English Government in all respects.

2. Simultaneously, a Proclamation should be made by the Officer Administering the Government of Weihaiwei to the following effect:-

The terms of the Convention should be set out and the boundaries of the ceded territory be stated.

The Administrator should state he is appointed to govern the Colony, and announce that on such and such a day he proposes to take over its administra- tion from the Chinese. The policy of the English Government in administering the territory should be then stated. Protection and justice for all law- abiding subjects. No usages or good custom, trade, or occupation to be inter- fered with.

The village organisation to remain the same as under the Chinese Govern- ment, but no oppression to be allowed.

Chinese representatives of some of the most respected of the largest vil- lages to be chosen to assist in advising on the management of the villages and colony.

All titles of land to be registered and certificates of title to be given. If title cannot be produced, long occupation may, after enquiry, be accepted as proof of ownership.

Land taxes to be paid at the same rate as before to the Government officers duly authorised to collect them. Law and good order to be estab

73

lished by Government Police Station to be placed in the district, and robbers punished.

No Customs duties on articles imported and exported will be imposed, therefore the price of things in the Colony will be cheap.

Government will refuse to recognise any sale of land bought at a low value under false misrepresentations if seller restores the consideration re- ceived for it. All disputes as to titles of land to be settled by a Land Board. A special Proclamation relating to land settlement and land taxation to be issued separately.

Warning to be given that if any disturbances occur the village responsible will be made to pay a riot police tax as compensation for any additional ex- penditure incurred in preserving peace and order.

Notice to be given that the Administrator will visit the village districts shortly after issue of the notice to hear complaints and give further expla- nations, &c.

3. The posting of the British Proclamation should be carried out universally in all the villages, and an officer with a sufficient display of force to command respect, see it posted in each village in succession.

4. Previous to placarding the Proclamation, the local Village Elders should be called into the city by the Administrator, and everything be fully explained to them, and the proposed form of Government administration, taxation, &c., be told them, and they should be warned that they will personally be held responsible for anything untoward happening that they do not give Government full information about before- hand.

2. After the British Proclamation has been posted in all the ceded territory, the Administrator should make a tour of all the leading villages in the district and interview the leading gentry, hear any complaints, offer any further explanations required, explain the land policy, and arrange for the building of Police stations and Police patrolling.

6. The military and naval forces should be asked to co-operate in taking over the new territory. The Chinese fully understand a display of force and the useless- ness of resisting disciplined troops if they see them.

Friction with the Chinese authorities.-If the Governor of Shantung behaves well, there should be no cause for friction at all with Chinese mandarins. There is no local reason why there should be.

As the cession of Weihaiwei, however, may mean loss of revenue (public and private) to the Governor, it is not to be expected that he will give much assistance.

Shantung, however, is near to Peking, and the Chinese Foreign Office can always be appealed to through the English Minister if the Governor makes trouble.

24736.

SIR,

No. 53.

WAR OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.

(Received July 31, 1900.)

War Office, London, S.W., July 31, 1900. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for War to forward, for the information of Mr. Secretary Chamberlain, the accompanying extracts from a letter of the Military Commissioner, Wei-hai-Wei, dated 21st April, 1900, and a copy of the reply sent thereto from this office on the 19th instant, on the subject of the allocation of sites for business premises and civilian residences on the island of Liu Kung.

I am, &c.,

G. FLEETWOOD WILSON.

5855

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