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ACTING COMMISSIONER COWAN to COLONIAL-OFFICE. (Received May 26, 1902.)

سلسلنا

1

(Secret and Confidential.)

SIB,

(No. 1.)

Wei-Hai-Wei, 14th April 1902.

I HAVE the honour to forward herewith, for your consideration, the concluding paragraphs of a General Report" on the Civil Administration of Wei-Hai-Wei, drawn up, as far as the meagre material at hand permits, by the Acting Assistant British Commissioner, Mr. Hare, Secretary for. Chinese Affairs, Federated Malay States.

2. I am forwarding the General Report later, as, in view of the importance of the questions raised in the concluding part of this report, it seemed advisable to forward a copy of it, under confidential cover, first for early consideration.

3. At the same time I have forwarded direct copies of Mr. Hare's conclusions to the Commanders-in-Chief of His Majesty's Naval and Military forces in China, and to H.B.M.'s Minister in Peking, for their information, and for the favour of any views they may think fit to express upon the questions raised, and direct to the Admiralty, Foreign Office, and War Office, which Departments of State will no doubt communicate to you direct any expression of views that may be evoked.

4. I have further forwarded a copy to Sir Frank Swettenham, K.O.M.G., Governor of the Straits Settlements, who is specially acquainted with the circumstances of Wei-Hai-Wei, with a request that he will be so good as to communicate his views as to the wisdom of what Mr. Hare advises direct to you at the Colonial Office.

I have, &c.

J. H. COWAN, Major R.E.,

Acting Commissioner.

I

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :---

C.O. 882

6 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

Enclosure.

THE POLITICAL AND COMMERCIAL IMPORTANCE OF WRI-HAI-WH,

(Secret and Confidential.)

In conclusion, it may be well to draw attention to the altered position that Wei-hai-Wei must now take in foreign and Chinese estimation in the Far East.

It was originally ceded by China to Great Britain in 1898 as a place d'armes in order to restore the balance of power in North China, after Russia's occupation of the fortress of Port Arthur, and to regain for Great Britain a more predominant voice in the Court Councils at Peking.

Careful inquiry by Naval and Military experts has since proved that Wei-hai-Wei cannot be made impregnable except at very great cost, and in consequence of this decision work on the fortifications has been abandoned, His Majesty's Military forces have been removed, and the local 1st Chinese Regiment is, it is understood, also to be reduced to 300 men.

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JILLE GALA

• The General Report is printed in Eastern No. 75. 50-7/08. P. 11. I & 5. ▲ 2