CO882-6 — Page 150

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TPIEC.O. 882

سلنا

9

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

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

25733.

SIR,

76

No. 54.

WAR OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.

(Received August 7, 1900.)

War Office, Pall Mall, S.W., August 7, 1900. IN continuation of War Office letter of the 31st July, 1900,* forwarding corre- spondence on the subject of the allocation of sites for business premises and civilian residences on the island of Liu Kung, Wei-hai-Wei, I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to transmit, for the information of Mr. Secretary Chamberlain, the enclosed copies of communications which have passed between the War Office and the Foreign Office and the War Office and the Military Commissioner on the subject of prospecting and mining at Wei-hai-Wei.

I am, &c.,

Enclosure 1 in No. 54.

•

G. FLEETWOOD WILSON,

MILITARY COMMISSIONER, Wei-hai-Wei, to the UNDER SECRETARY of State for War.

TELEGRAM.

December 7, 1899. Many applications have been made for mineral mining rights. Delay in settlement means confusion hereafter. Prospectors, contrary to regulations, arranging with natives direct. May I sanction prospecting on payment of fees fixed by me, also purchase of land from natives, leaving mineral mining rights for

settlement hereafter?

Land expensive, and therefore immediate purchases very small; extensive pro- specting rights applied for.

SIR,

Enclosure 2 in No. 54.

War Office, December 23, 1899.

I AM directed by the Secretary of State for War to transmit to you, for the in- formation of the Marquess of Salisbury, a copy of a telegram which has been received from the Military Commissioner, Wei-hai-Wei, on the subject of applications for mining rights within the leased territory.

2. It is proposed to cable the following reply:-

✔

Referring to your telegram of 7th instant, await instructions as to mining and prospecting, and meanwhile refuse all applications for rights and sales of land by natives."

3. I am to request that the Marquess of Salisbury will be pleased to favour Lord Lansdowne with any observations he may wish to offer in the matter at the very earliest date.

The Under Secretary of State,

Foreign Office.

I am, &c.,

G. FLEETWOOD WILSON.

77

Secretary of State for War, that it might be advisable to give public notice that no such transactions will be recognised unless the transfer has been duly registered by the administrative authorities.

Such registration might be refused in all cases where the land which it was pro- posed to sell was intended for mining purposes.

The Under Secretary of State, War Office.

Enclosure 4 in No. 54.

I am, &c.,

F. H. VILLIERS.

MILITARY COMMISSIONER, Wei-hai-Wei, to the UNDER SECRETARY OF STtate for War. TELEGRAM.

June 11, 1900. Your telegram 5th January. Can I permit prospecting subject to rules made hereafter? No land will be purchased from natives.

SIR,

Enclosure 5 in No. 54.

War Office, July 27, 1900.

WITH reference to your letter of the 12th June, 1900, G. 32, and previous cor- respondence, relative to prospecting and mining at Wei-hai-Wei, I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to inform you that, pending the transfer of the administra- tion of the territory to the Colonial Office, no permission whatever is to be given for any prospecting or mining, nor are any applitants for such licences to be in any way encouraged by the military administration, or the subsequent action of the Colonial Office in any way pledged or prejudiced.

2. Should that office subsequently consider that facilities in these respects may be granted, applications can then be dealt with on their merits, it being, of course, in- cumbent on the local military authority to keep a careful watch over the military and defensive requirements, which must not be allowed to be in any way impaired by any action which is proposed for purely civil purposes.

The Military Commissioner,

Wei-hai-Wei.

28859.

(No. 352.)

SIR,

I am, &c.,

G. HILDEBRAND,

Deputy Inspector-General of Fortifications.

No. 55.

Enclosure 3 in No. 54.

Foreign Office, December , 1899.

SIR,

I HAVE laid before the Marquess of Salisbury your letter marked " Works, Wei- hai-Wei, 8/25," of the 23rd instant, relative to applications for mining rights in the leased territory at Wei-hai-Wei,

Lord Salisbury nas no observations to make on this matter except that, as regards sales of land by natives to foreigners, he would suggest, for the consideration of the

• No. 53.

GOVERNOR SIR H. A. BLAKE to MR. CHAMBERLAIN. (Received September 3, 1900.)

[Answered by No. 72.]

Government House, Hong Kong, August 2, 1900. I HAVE the honour to submit, for your consideration, the question of the ad- visability of making the British dollar legal tender at Wei-Hai-Wei. I am of opinion that in the interests of commerce this would be useful and convenient, and might be productive of much good in the commercial intercourse of north and south China. I understand that the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation has approached the Imperial Government on this matter already* and I recommend the proposal for your favourable consideration.

I have, &c.,

HENRY A. BLAKE,

Governor, &c.

• See No. 56.

Page 150Page 151

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

EPLIC.O. 882

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

29276.

SIR,

78

No. 56.

TREASURY to COLONIAL OFFICE.

(Received September 7, 1900.)

[Answered by No. 62.]

Treasury Chambers, September 6, 1900. I AM directed by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to trans- mit to you, to be laid before the Secretary of State for the Colonies, the enclosed copy of a letter and its enclosures which they have received from the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, recommending that steps should be taken to make the British dollar legal tender at Wei-Hai-Wei.

My Lords are not aware whether the local conditions at Wei-Hai-Wei are at present such that a notification by the administering officer would be likely to be suc- cessful in securing the acceptance of the British dollar as the equivalent of the Mexican dollar. If this effect could be secured they would be disposed to favour the step, in order that Government payments in the locality might be provided for without incurring the premium which is at present charged on those issues of the Mexican dollar which pass current. It would be necessary to have reasonable assurance that the British dollars would be freely accepted before instructions could be given for their issue for the pay of soldiers and sailors on the station.

I am to request that My Lords may be informed of Mr. Chamberlain's views on the proposal.

I am, &c.,

Enclosure in No. 56.

E. W. HAMILTON.

Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation,

31, Lombard Street, London, E.C.,

SIR,

August 30, 1900. I HAVE the honour to enclose extracts taken from letters just received from our Shanghai Branch and Head Office at Hong Kong, with reference to the British dollar. For many years the Mexican dollar was practically the only coin recognised in the far East, but owing to the expansion of trade and the uncertainty of a steady supply of coin from Mexico, it was found necessary a few years ago to take steps for the coinage of a British dollar.

The British dollar has been made legal tender in Hong Kong and the Straits Settlements, much to the advantage of British trade. These dollars are also current at Peking and some of the coast ports of China, including Tientsin. My object in now addressing you is to suggest the advisability of Her Majesty's Government making the British dollar legal tender at Wei-Hai-Wei. If that is done it will help very much to bring about the acceptance of the British dollar throughout China, with the result that it will supersede or, at any rate, circulate on equal terms with the Mexican dollar. Although the British dollar is practically of the same intrinsic value as the Mexican, the latter commands a considerable premium, constituting a heavy tax on traders generally, and especially on Her Majesty's Government. That will be done away with once the British dollar is accepted at all ports.

Sir Francis Mowatt, K.C.B.,

Secretary to the Treasury.

I have, &c.,

EWEN CAMERON,

Manager.

Extract from Letter from Manager, Shanghai, dated July 25th, 1900. Regarding the payment to the troops in the north, this is a splendid opportunity of introducing the British dollar all over China. As all sorts of dollars are taken in Tientsin, a steady influx of the British coin would soon place it first there, and its acceptance in Chefoo and Wei-Hai-Wei would very soon follow.

79

Extract from Letter from Chief Manager, Hong Kong, dated July 27th, 1900. The British dollar is not current at Wei-Hai-Wei, although it is so at Peking and Tientsin. Will you lay the matter before the Government with a view to their taking steps to make it available there? At present all ships of war, and the troops as well, require the old Mexican dollar, which, as you know, is getting very scarce, and which of late has been at a premium of from 6 to 7 per cent. Now would be a good time to get our own dollar introduced, and if we can manage it during the time when so much raoney is being expended in the north it will be a great boon for the future.

31789.

SIR,

No. 57.

ACTING COMMISSIONER PRENDERGAST to COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received September 29, 1900.)

Wei-Hai-Wei, August 13, 1900.

I HAVE the honour to confirm the despatch to you of a code telegram dated July 14, 1900, of which the following is the transcript:-

“£2,500 wanted immediately for defraying expenses being incurred in providing accommodation, &c., for refugees.-Commissioner.'

2. On the outbreak of the " Boxer" rebellion a number of missionaries and other Europeans residing in the north of China were obliged to make their way hastily to the coast. Many of them arrived at Wei-Hai-Wei in a destitute condition, and the Com- missioner gave instructions that accommodation should be furnished for them by fitting up Chinese houses in a temporary manner, and in laying in a stock of provisions. Having no funds to meet this expenditure, the above telegram was despatched.

3. I have no definite information as to whether the Secretary of State for the Colonies is prepared to deal with such civil questions at Wei-Hai-Wei, and if this tele- gram and letter have been wrongly addressed, I shall be much obliged if they may be passed to the Secretary of State for War, with a view to obtaining a decision as to the provision of funds to meet expenditure incurred in housing and providing for refugees. 4. Of the above sum, for which covering authority is requested, 000 has been expended by the Naval Authorities, and further liabilities may be incurred by them.

5. Some portion of this expenditure may hereafter be properly charged to military

I have, &c.,

votes.

31789.

SIR,

J. W. PRENDERGAST, Colonel,

No. 58.

Acting Commissioner.

COLONIAL OFFICE to WAR OFFICE.

WITH reference to your letter of the 18th July last, respecting the provision of

Downing Street, October 2, 1900. accommodation, &c., for refugees at Wei-hai-Wei, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain to transmit to you a letter which has been received from Colonel Prender- gast confirming the despatch of the telegram copy of which was enclosed in the letter from this Department of the 16th July last.§

2. I am to ask that the Marquess of Lansdowne may be so good as to cause the Commissioner to be informed that this letter has been forwarded to the War Office, pending the completion of the arrangements for transferring the administration of Wei-hai-Wei from the War Office to this Department.

3. A letter will very shortly be addressed to you on the latter subject.

I am, &c.,

C. P. LUCAS.

• 22661: not printed.

↑ No. 51.

‡ No. 57.

f No. 30.