CO129-219 Foreign Office 1884 — Page 357

TONQUIN.

FIDEN

139

No. 1.

oday, November 25

356

تا

10

(No. 203.) My Lord,

Sir H. Parkes to Earl Granville.-(Received November 25.)

Peking, October 7, 1884. WITH reference to my despatch No. 201 of the 1st instant relative to the Procla- mation issued by the high authorities of Canton, calling upon Chinese in British Colonies to poison Frenchmen and destroy their ships, I have now the honour to forward copy of a despatch from Mr. Acting Consul Hance, which I received on the 4th instant, inclosing a copy of that Proclamation, and of the appropriate remonstrance which he addressed the Viceroy on becoming acquainted with its publication.

I have, &c. (Signed)

HARRY S. PARKES.

Inclosure 1 in No. 1.

Sir,

Acting Consul Hance to Sir H. Parkes.

Canton, September 18, 1884. I HAVE the honour to inclose, for your information, translation of a Proclamation which was issued on the 15th instant, and of the promulgation of which 1 bave already notified you by telegram.

This Proclamation, inciting, as it does, the inhabitants of British Colonies to crime, appeared to me so objectionable that, as soon as I was able to procure a copy, I addressed a despatch on the subject to the Governor-General.

Translation of this despatch I now inclose, trusting that it may meet with your approval.

I have, &c.

(Signed) H. F. HANCE.

Inclosure 2 in No. 1.

Proclamation.

(Translation.)

P'êng, Imperial Commissioner for Coast Defence, &c.; Chang, Imperial Commissioner for Coast Defence, &c.; Chang, Governor-General of the Two Kuang, &c.;

Ni, Governor of Kwangtung, &c. ;

ISSUE a notification for the information of the inhabitants, fishermen, labourers, and traders on the north and south coasts of the Two Kuang, and of all Chinese living in Touquin, Saigon, Singapore, and Penang.

The French, disregarding right, have disturbed the peace of China, harried her people, and devastated her territory. Gods and men are alike full of indignation. If any of you are desirous of showing their loyalty and patriotism let them charter and fit out ships abroad, purchase arms and ammunition, proceed to the seas of Tonquin, Fokien, and Kuangtung, and obtsruct and cut off French ships, attacking them at every opportunity. Or let them, by feigning to allow themselves to be enlisted as soldiers by the French, injure their ships and armament, and ignite their gunpowder.

Or let them, acting as artizans engaged in repairing their (the French) ships, contrive

to ruin their engines, and as pilots endeavour to wreck their ships in desert places;

Or let them sell to the French provisions mixed with noxious drugs, so that they may poison themselves;

Or let them hire themselves out so as to procure information, contriving to turn truth into falsehood, and mislead their movements;

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