20
4. I am strongly opposed to the suggestion that the preservation of order in the territory should be entrusted to the 1st Chinese Regiment. The Chinese, law- abiding though they are, are intensely mistrustful of the military, and cannot be induced to lay grievances before the officer commanding the regiment, who, to them, is simply the head of an organised mob.
It is inadvisable that for many years the Chinese Regiment at Wei-bai-wei should be brought in any way into opposition with the natives. Contrasting the steadiness of the marines, when the natives showed opposition to the survey, with the reported behaviour of the Chinese Regiment at the frontier disturbance, it is my conviction that, had a body of marines been employed as guard, instead of the Chinese Regiment, at the demarcation, the loss of life consequent upon the collision with the natives would have been avoided.
As the Admiralty propose retaining a small guard of marines on the island they could always be called upon to deal with any serious trouble among the people of the territory.
5. In Sir F. Swettenham's report, paragraph three gives the population as 80,000; it was found by the Royal Engineers to be 150,000; their report is confirmed by the missionaries of the district.
Paragraph five gives the population of Wei-hai-wei walled city as 1,500; it is computed by the missionaries to be between 4,000 and 5,000; the former is probably the nearer nuinber.
E. A. A. GAUNT,
Commander,
Royal Navy.
26411
21
No. 31.
MR. CHAMBERLAIN to COMMISSIONER SIR A. F. DORWARD.
(No. 20.)
Downing Street, August 2, 1901.
SIR,
I HAVE the honour to transmit, for your information and guidance, copies of an Order of His Majesty in Council, dated the 24th July last, entitled "The Wei-hai-wei Order in Council, 1901.”
2. I request that you will take steps at the earliest possible date for the publica- tion of this Order in Council in the Dependency.
I have, &c.,
26411
No. 32.
J. CHAMBERLAIN.
MR. CHAMBERLAIN to GOVERNOR SIR H. A .BLAKE (HONG Kong). [Answered by No. 60.] (No. 255.)
SIR,
Downing Street, August 2, 1901. I HAVE the honour to transmit, for your information and guidance, two copies of an Order of His Majesty in Council, dated the 24th July,* and entitled “The Wei- hai-wei Order in Council, 1901."
2. I have to call your attention to the fact that under this Order in Council the Supreme Court of Hong Kong is constituted & Court of Appeal from the High Court of Wei-hai-wei.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :---
C.O. 882
6
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
(B.) Wei-hai-wei Post Office.
July 20, 1901.
I have just received from Mr. Lucas, Major-General Dorward's despatch of 20th May, relative to the establishment of a local British Post Office. While concurring with his report, I do not think that he has made it clear that some portion of the revenue will cease when the China Expeditionary Force is withdrawn.
On the other hand he has taken the worst six months in the year as regards the postal revenue to be derived from the fleet, and, I think, has underestimated by one half the number of postal orders for the smaller sums, ten shillings and below that will be required.
26411
SIR,
No. 30.
E. A. A. GAUNT,
Commander,
Royal Navy.
COUNCIL OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received July 31, 1901.)
Council Office, Whitehall, July 30, 1901.
I AM directed by the Lord President of the Council to transmit to you the accom- panying Order of His Majesty in Council of the 24th instant, entitled The Wei-hai- wei Order in Council, 1901" and I am to request that you will lay the same before the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
• Not reprinted.
I am,
c.,
A. W. FITZROY.
#
26411
No. 33.
I have, &c.,
J. CHAMBERLAIN.
MR. CHAMBERLAIN to COMMISSIONER SIR A. F. DORWARD.
(Confidential.)
SIR,
[Pur. 8 answered by No. 47.]
Downing Street, August 2, 1901.
IN a numbered despatch of even date,† I have the honour to forward copies of The Wei-hai-wei Order in Council, 1901."*
2. It has been decided for political reasons that the leased territory of Wei-hai- wei shall not be treated as part of His Majesty's dominions, but as a foreign country within which His Majesty has "by treaty, capitulation, grant, usage, sufferance and other lawful means," jurisdiction. This jurisdiction is exercisable, and is to be exercised, by means of an Order in Council under "The Foreign Jurisdiction Act, 1890."
3. The Order in Council was accordingly drafted in the Foreign Office on the general lines of the Cyprus Order in Council of September 14, 1878. The draft was carefully examined in this Department, to which the civil administration of Wei-hai-wei was transferred after the draft had been prepared; and I had the advantage of Sir F. Swettenham's criticisms. After the draft had been further revised by the Law Officers of the Crown, it was submitted to the Secretary of State for War, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, and amended in accordance with the wishes of the latter Department.
4. The Order provides for the appointment of a Commissioner; and you are already aware that your name will be submitted to His Majesty for appointment to this office. By clause 3, sub-section (2), the administration of the territory, in the event your absence, &c., would be vested in any person "appointed to administer the same by any instrument under His Majesty's Sign Manual and Signet"; and in default of any person so appointed, in the senior military officer in the Dependency.
of
5. Steps will be taken at an early date to prepare and transmit to you the official seal, provided for in clause 4 of this Order.
• In 26411: not reprinted.
† No. 32.
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