CO882-6 — Page 454

།T ། ། ། T

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 882

6 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

Germany "on lease, provisionally for 99 years, both sides of the entrance to the Bay of Kiao-Chau."

The cession was made "with the intention of meeting the legitimate desire of His Majesty the German Emperor that Germany, like other Powers, should hold a place on the Chinese coast for the repair and equipment of her ships, for the storage of materials and provisions for the same, and for other arrangements connected therewith."

44

Germany engaged to "construct, at a suitable moment, on the territory thus ceded, fortifications " for the protection of the buildings to be constructed "there, and of the entrance to the harbour.” Sovereign rights in the ceded territory and its waters were transferred by the Chinese Government to Germany in the following words :-

"The Imperial Chinese Government will "abstain from exercising rights

11

of

Sovereignty in the ceded territory during "the term of the lease and leaves the "exercise of the same to Germany," and again, "in virtue of the rights of sovereignty over the whole of the water area of the Bay transferred to Germany."

It will be noted-

(a) that the lease-99 years is the same term as that of our new territory in Hongkong, but the word "provision- ally"-a useful word-appears in the German agreement, not in ours; (b) that sovereign rights were expressly conferred on Germany and not left to inference. The Law Officers have held that our leased territory is British territory. We have adopted this view in the case of Hong Kong, but not

in that of Weihaiwei, which Lord Salisbury decided should be treated as a Protectorate;

64

(c) the treaty is more akilfully worded in various respects than ours, especially in that Germany is made to appear as acting in Chinese interests, e.g., Ger- many engages to construct fortifica- tions"; again, in the zone of German influence, outside the ceded territory, the Emperor of China agrees to allow the free passage of German troops as well as his own, and to not only in concert with Germany, being "guided "by the intention to strengthen the friendly relations between China and

1

"

Germany, and at the same time to "increase the military readiness of "the Chinese Empire."

Again, "Should Germany at some "future time express the wish to "return Kiso-Ohau Bay to Chine "before the expiration of the lease, "China engages to refund to Germany "the expenditure she ha incurred at Kino-Chau, and to bede to Germany

64

64

a more suitable place."

Chinese ships of war are not given any special rights in the waters of Kiao-Chau Bay, but only such as are enjoyed by other friendly nations.

In addition to her leased territory and zone of influence, Germany has acquired from China valuable mining and railway concessions in the Shantung Province, and the right of supplying such foreign capital and plant as may be required for the development of the province. The extension of German influence in the province has been very marked, and is illustrated by the present claim of a German company to mine in the British sphere of influence in preference to a British company, as having a prior concession to the latter.

Weihaiwei, which is roughly 1,300 miles from Hong Kong, 90 from Port Arthur, and 40 from the Treaty port of Chefoo, consists of an island and a strip of the mainland-over and above the sphere of influence behind the latter. The leased territory, including the island, has an area of 285 square miles, with a population of 150,000; the sphere of influence has an area of 1,500 square miles. The island, unlike the mainland strip, is the private property of the British Government. It was bought by the Admiralty and War Office. Naval views as to the value of Weihaiwei seem to vary from time to time, but the main difference of opinion is as to whether the place should be fortified or not. There is apparently no doubt as to the excellence of the harbour, such as existed in the case of Port Hamilton off the southern end of Cores, occupied in 1885 and given up in 1887.

A

the

This case of Port Hamilton is worth noting as showing how naval opinions fluctuate. special and confidential report made to Admiralty at the end of 1884, after a personal visit, described the harbour sa a grand natural harbour, well sheltered, where a large fleet might lie in almost complete safety in all weathers, adding that it had a plentiful and good supply of water, could be easily defended, and was a very desirable place for a naval depot. A special report, made early in 1886, said that it was not a good typhoon barbour, that the water supply' was "bad, and that from a naval point of view it was quite worthless. "No one can hold it who has not the "command of the seas; and if you have command "of the seas of what good is it!". This instance is quoted to illustrate the extraordinary variance of naval views, and therefore the danger of deciding on naval grounds whether or not to hold a place.

As to military opinions on Weihaiwei, to the best of my recollection, Sir A. Dorward, whose opinion is of far the most valus, as having been Commissioner of Weihaiwei, formed a very good opinion of the place. On the other hand, it was decided at one time to withdraw all troops from the place anu disband the Chinese Regiment. This decision was subsequently modified.