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the Ordinance on this question until there is a greater probability of the British dollar being freely accepted in Wei-hai-wei and the neighbourhood.

I am, &c.,

7872

No. 87.

C. P. LUCAS.

73

on either island or mainland, at present in War Office possession should be transferred to the Colonial Office, and, further, that for the next twelve months a force of not less strength than 300 Officers and men should be kept by the War Office at Wei-hai-Wei.

2. I am to suggest that the most convenient time to hand over the War Depart- ment lands and buildings, would be on the final withdrawal from the island of these troops. This need not interfere with the transfer, prior to that date, of any War Department property that could be made available which may be required for the immediate use of the Colonial Government.

I am to ask whether this arrangement will be agreeable to the Secretary of State for the Colonies,

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

༑ ། ། ། ། lCO. 88?

MR. CHAMBERLAIN to ACTING COMMISSIONER COWAN, [Answered by No. 126.]

(Confidential.)

SIR,

Downing Street, March 12, 1902. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your confidential despatch of the 26th December last, in which you ask permission to approach the Governor of Shantung with a view to his instructing the Chefoo Taotai to consult the Commissioner of Wei-Hai-Wei, and to arrange locally with the Commissioner some satisfactory com- premise for the suppression of the abuses arising from the continuance of Chinese jurisdiction in the walled city.

2. I laid your despatch before the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and

I enclose a copy of his reply.t

3. The question had better be deferred until the arrival of Mr. Lockhart. If he concurs in the views put forward in your despatch, I can see no reason why they should not be carried out,

4. I have informed the Marquess of Lansdowne that I agree that no proposal for the surrender of Chinese jurisdiction in the walled city of Wei-Hai-Wei should be made to the Chinese Governnient at present.

I have, &c.,

J. CHAMBERLAIN

No. 88.

COLONIAL OFFICE to FOREIGN OFFICE.

12561

SIR,

No. 90.

I am, &c.,

G. FLEETWOOD WILSON.

FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received March 31, 1902.)

Foreign Office, March 29, 1902. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to transmit to you,

to be laid before the Secretary of State for the Colonies, the accompanying copy of

a despatch on the subject of Chinese jurisdiction in the walled city of Wei-hai-wei.

FRANCIS BERTIE.

(No. 42.)

SIR,

Enclosure in No. 90.

I am,

&c.,

7872

SIR,

Downing Street, March 12, 1902.

Is reply to your letter of the 24th ultimo,† I am directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain to request you to inform the Marquess of Lansdowne that Mr. Cham- berlain concurs in the view expressed by Sir E. Satow, as to the inadvisability of making any proposal to the Chinese Government at present with a view to the surrender of Chinese jurisdiction in the walled city of Wei-Hai-Wei.

2. Major Cowan will be informed, in reply to the despatch of which a copy was closed in the letter from this Office of the 18th ultimo, that the question raised in that despatch had better be deferred until the arrival of Mr. Lockhart, the new Com- missioner, and that if Mr. Lockhart agrees with Major Cowan, there is no reason why the latter's views should not be carried out.

THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNE to SIR E. SATOW.

Foreign Office, March 14, 1902. I HAVE Consulted His Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies on the subject of your despatch, No. 457, of the 11th of December, 1901, and I concur with you in thinking that it would be unadvisable to make any proposal to the Chinese Government at present, with a view to the surrender of Chinese jurisdiction in the walled city of Wei-hai-wei, and I approve the course which you propose to take, should further trouble arise.

A copy of a letter from the Colonial Office on this subject is inclosed.*

I am, &c.,

13379

No. 91.

LANSDOWNE.

6

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC.

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

12645

SIR,

No. $9.

I am, &c..

C. P. LUCAS.

WAR OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.

(Received April 1, 1902.)

[Answered by No. 93.]

War Office, London, S.W., March 27, 1902.

I AM directed by the Secretary of State for War to acquaint you, for the informa- tion of Mr. Secretary Chamberlain, that at the Conference on Wei-bai-Wei, held on 21st January last, to consider and report upon the future garrison of Wei-hai-Wei and other questions connected therewith, it was agreed that all lands and buildings,

5109: not printed.

• No. 75,

† No. 82.

SIR E. SATOW, PEKING, to the MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNE. (Sent 1.40 p.m. Received 11.45 a.m., April 4, 1902.)

(No. 79.)

TELEGRAM.

[Received in Colonial Office, April 7, 1902.]

[Answered by No. 92.]

There is a rumour that the 1st Chinese Regiment is to be reduced from 1,100 to 300 by March 31st next.

I trust care will be taken so that disbanded men may not become elements of disturbance in their native province of Shantung, and that valuable services rendered by the Regiment in the defence of Tientsin will not be lost sight of.

0611

* Colonial Office, March 12, 1902 (No. 88).

K