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in capturing a first-class iron-clad will receive a reward of 100,000 taels, and fo a second-class iron ship 80,000 taels. For a first-class wooden steamer they will receive a reward of 40,000 faels, and for a small wooden steamer 20,000 taels. For a foreign boat a reward of 100 taels will be given. For sinking and destroying any of the above the reward will be one-half, and grades of official rank will be liberally given. Ships belonging to other countries than France must not, however, be recklessly captured or recklessly destroyed. If there happens to be treasure or goods on board a ship, it will all be given to the man to whose exertions the capture is due. Officials, gentry, soldiery, or others who did not lend any help, will not be permitted to quarrel over its partition. If, however, the foe have not been effectively repulsed, and any persons, instead of giving their attention to pursuit and slaughter, lay violent hands on the traasure and goods, they will assuredly be punished by martial law.
4. Any soldiers or civilians who succeed in capturing from the enemy a large piece of cannon, weighing 10,000 catties or upwards, will receive a reward of 3,000 taels, and the man who has shown the most energy in the matter will receive the peacock plume and the rank of Captain. The brevets will be issued at once. smaller sizes of cannon, a proportionately lower reward.
For 5. Officials, civil and military, soldiers, militia, traders and train-bands, and others who, when the French army invade a place, achieve a victory out of the common, and leading their brave fellows to the fight succeed in completely vanquishing the enemy, will receive a reward of 30,000 taels, and extraordinary promotion will be given according to their grade and merit. Brevets will be granted on the day of the award.
6. The local gentry, or the militia of any place attacked by the French troops, shall, if they succeed in guarding the place in the absence of the troops, and in preventing ships, boats, or land forces from forcing their way into the interior, in this way protecting the approaches while a flying message is sent to beg for assistance from the Imperial troops, be munificently rewarded, on a basis to be determined at the time, with sums varying from 10,000 taels to 1,000 taels. Honours, decorations, and buttons will be abundantly awarded to the leaders.
7. Those who recklessly kill innocent people with a view to fraudulently gaining the reward will assuredly be dealt with under martial law.
The money for the above rewards has already been supplied from the Treasuries of the Provincial Exchequer, the Gabelle, and the Grain Department, and has been handed over to the Board of Reorganization, who will pay the awards,
On receiving a report at the Board of Reorganization the latter will make inquiry and pay the money at once to each in turn. There will be no deduction or delay, and brevets for the honours, plumes, and buttons will be given on the spot. There will be no going back [from the above promises].
The clauses above apply exclusively to French soldiers and ships. The subjects of all other countries are friendly, as heretofore, and there is nothing against them. No harm must, therefore, be done them under pain of being dealt with by martial law.
Kwangsu, 10th year, 7th moon, 10th day (August 30, 1884).
(Translation.)
Inclosure 3 in No. 1.
Proclamation.
A Proclamation by Chang, Governor of Shansi, and Acting Governor-General of the
Two Kwang; and
Ni, Governor of Kwangtung.
THE French being covetous and perverse, and without [sense of] right, have committed an act of war, and the people of the seaboard are all deeply and justly indignant. The valour and daring of the men of Kwangtung is proverbial, and they will certainly be able with earnest purpose to unite for revenge. But the breach of right was committed by the troops, and the blame attached to the French only, and in no way touches other nations. We, the Acting Governor-General and the Governor, have already ordered the French Consul to take with him his nationals, and to quit Kwangtung.
There are, therefore, now at Canton no foreigners but those belonging to other
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nations, who are all on friendly terms with China. These must not be causelessly molested, and we therefore issue Proclamation to notify the soldiery and others who live within and without the precincts of the city, that there are now no French in Canton, and that people of other nations being friendly, must be protected. But if any one dare to make disturbances and wound or injure them, he will be at once dealt with by martial law (i.e., executed).
Let every one trembling obey; a special Proclamation dated 31st August, 1884.
(Translation.)
Hsiao, Prefect of Kwangchow.
Inclosure 4 in No. 1.
Proclamation.
Wei, Acting Magistrate of Nankai district.
Hon, Magistrate of P'an-zü district, in the matter of issuing a Proclamation.
FRENCHMEN have been trading in China for many years, and the Emperor has treated them with great kindness, and has protected them and their families. All western nations have been treated alike, and on no occasion has the slightest distinction been made. But the French are incapable of gratitude and respect, and have invaded [the territory of our dependency. Now they have gone to Foochow in vessels of war, and, without a declaration of hostilities, have shelled and destroyed the arsenal. They seek a quarrel, and, abandoning what is good, drag in [a pretext for] enmity and commence war. This indeed is sufficient to arouse ire both divine and human.
if
We are in receipt of a communication from the high provincial authorities, in which it is stated as to the French Consul, and others [of his nationality], I have already directed them to leave Kwangtung. The church in the Mai-ma street of Canton [the cathedral], and the churches in every prefecture and department, are, they have been erected by Frenchmen, to be inspected and sealed up by the officials. Men are to be sent to take possession of and place seals on the Consulate, and on all mercantile hongs. As to the burning of the arsenal a short time ago, of course this should be discussed, and compensation paid. [With regard to] all [these things, it is necessary to] wait until the Tsung-li Yamên has received an Imperial Decrce, giving direction as to what is to be done.
We accordingly at once issue this Proclamation for [general] information, so that both Chinese and foreign merchants and others may obey. It ought to be known that the above-mentioned churches, &c., must certainly be examined by officials, and closed one by one with seals. People may not secretly damage or destroy [these], and thus involve the persons living near.
Hongs, godowns, and churches belonging to other nations, which have always been on friendly terms with China, have to be treated as heretofore, and there are to be no disturbances. But now that hostilities have commenced, we fear that it will be difficult to distinguish between the hongs, godowns, and churches belonging to different nations. People of all nations must at once have [a paper] posted on their doorways, with large Chinese characters on it, stating that the hong, godown, or church belongs to such and such a nation. In this way people have only to look and know [to what nation the property belongs], and there cannot be the slightest mistake. As to houses and property really belonging to Frenchmen, [the owners] are on no account to borrow another nation's name, hoping to cause confusion,
Converts to the French religion are in any case China's children and people, for hundreds of years they have trod on [Chinese] soil, and eaten [Chinese] food, and of course they are not in the slightest degree to be looked upon as aliens. As to those that secretly assist the French, they have a wish to conspire against [their country], and will be arrested and punished. Certainly no indulgence will be shown them.
Let every one trembling obey without fail. A special Proclamation. Kuangsu, 10th year, 7th moon, 9th day (August 29, 1884).
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