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Or let them spy out their malevolent plots, and disclose their apparent [des gns] and real [intentions], reporting each matter in its turn for the information of the Imperial troops.
If any one succeed in accomplishing a meritorious act of the kind above mentioned] he shall receive the reward according to the scale [already published], and we will, acting in conjunction with the Governor-General and Governor of the maritime province [where the action was performed], petition the Throne to bestow on him a high grade of official rank. The money paid for the ship, and the price of its armament, will be made good to him.
Whoever can enlist a regiment and invade and capture Saigon, Hanoi, or Haiphong, will assuredly be granted patents of nobility. The Governor-General and Governor will by no means go back from their promises to those who have been zealous in their country's service.
Sir,
A special Proclamation.
Dated 26th day, 7th moon, 10th year K.S. (15th September, 1884).
Inclosure 3 in No. 1.
Acting Consul Hance to Acting Governor-General Chang.
Canton, September 17, 1884 (28th day, 7th moon, 10th year, K.S.),
I WAS struck with astonishment at the sight of a Proclamation just issued by your Excellency, the Imperial Commissioner Pêng, the Imperial Commissioner Chang, and Governor Ni, urging Chinese subjects living in the British Colonies of Singapore and Penang to act contrary to British law by damaging French ships, and by selling to the French provisions with which noxious drugs have been mixed, so as to procure their death, &c.
If your Excellency will consider the question you will doubtless perceive that to incite men in this way to compass the murder of their fellow creatures is a most grievous offence against the beneficent laws of heaven and of humanity. nation having the smallest pretension to civilization; how much more, then, of your It is unworthy of any Government's benevolent rule over its Empire.
As the issue of the Proclamation in question appears to me to constitute a grave breach of international etiquette, I have thought it right to report it by telegraph to Sir Harry Parkes, Her Majesty's Minister at Peking, and have, &c.
(No. 204.) My Lord,
No. 2.
(Signed)
H. F. HANCE.
Sir H. Parkes to Earl Granville.--(Received November 25.)
Peking, October 7, 1884.
I HAVE the honour to forward a copy of a letter which I have just addressed to Mr. Marsh, Administrator, Hong Kong, embodying the information he has supplied me by telegram respecting the riots which have lately occurred at Hong Kong, and which are attributed to the Proclamation of the Canton high authorities, which formed the subject of my despatch No. 201 of the 1st instant.
I also add a copy of my note to the Yamen referred to in this despatch, which I trust will receive your Lordship's approval.
Sir,
I have, &c.
(Signed)
HARRY S. PARKES.
Inclosure 1 in No. 2.
Sir H. Parkes to Administrator Marsh.
Peking, October 7, 1884.
ON the morning of the 5th instant I received from your Excellency the following telegram in clear :-
"Serious riots here yesterday in consequence of Proclamation of Canton authorities, referred to in your telegram.
Order now restored."
I at once replied by wire in clear: "Am anxious to know character and extent of riots, whether injury or loss of life occasioned, and how attributable to Proclamation."
To this I received last evening the following response in clear :-- "Proclamation caused much excitement, and stoppage of work for all French vessels. Boatmen refusing to Torpedo-boat in dock protected by police from expected attack.
work prosecuted by Messageries and fined. All boatmen struck on the 30th; chair and Five constables wounded; jenricksha coolies prevented from working by violent mob. fired carbines. One Chinese found dead; 100 soldiers quartered in Chinese hospital since the 3rd to support police; have not had to interfere. Strike extended on Saturday; to-day work generally resumed. Rioters acting under orders of leaders, who did not appear."
I thereupon addressed a note to the Tsung-li Yamên, a copy of which I beg to inclose, showing that these serious disturbances were attributable to the Proclamation issued by the high authorities of Canton on the 15th ultimo, and the grave responsibilities which the Chinese Government would incur by any repetition of such lawless proceedings, and I urged that the Imperial Decree of the 29th ultimo annulling that Proclamation should be publicly proclaimed at Canton.
I have also just sent your Excellency the following telegram in clear :-- "Your telegram of yesterday. Have addressed Yamên strong representation. Copy forwarded you to-day.”
I have, &c.
(Signed)
Inclosure 2 in No. 2.
Sir H. Parkes to the Tsung-li Yamén.
HARRY S. PARKES.
Peking, October 7, 1884. HER Britannic Majesty's Minister received last evening a telegram from the Government of Hong Kong, informing him that the peace of that Colony had been seriously disturbed for several days by some lawless Chinese who had conspired to prevent their countrymen engaging in the performance of any service needed by French vessels in the Colony. The Government had been obliged to protect a French vessel in dock against attack, and to punish boatmen who refused, in defiance of rule, to work for a French mail-steamer. A violent mob then collected and prevented all coolies from undertaking any labour, and when the police attempted to disperse the rioters they were attacked and five of them were wounded. The police were compelled to fire upon the It was observed that the mob, and the troops had to be called out to restore order. rioters acted under the direction of leaders, who were doubtless incited by the Proclama- tion issued by the high authorities of Canton on the 15th ultimo, which called upon Chinese in certain British Colonies and elsewhere to poison and murder Frenchmen wherever they might be found, and to do them and their vessels all the injury in their
power.
Her Majesty's Minister is confident that his Highness and their Excellencies will learn with deep concern that the publication of that Proclamation has been attended with such grave results, and it is not impossible that similar criminal acts may also be When such high authorities as two Imperial committed in other British Colonies. Commissioners, a Governor-General and a Governor, evince such utter disregard of international law, of the dictates of humanity, and of the respect due to British sovereignty as to issue a Proclamation offering rewards to Chinese to outrage the laws of the British territories in which they reside, it is not surprising that lower classes of Chinese should be There is but slight difference between excited by such instigation to commit crime. aggression of this kind on a neutral Power and positive hostile attack. If the Chinese residents in British Colonies, who receive from the British Government the same benevolent care and protection that is extended to other British subjects, are to be thus incited to disturb the peace of the British Settlements, the Chinese Government will incur very serious responsibilities. The public disturbance thus caused might oblige Her Majesty's Government to increase the military force in those Settlements, and indemnifica tion for such expenditure would be only one of the consequences which would fall upon the Chinese Government,
In hastening to communicate to the Prince and Ministers the above information, Her Majesty's Minister can only hope that the Imperial Decree of the 29th ultimo, which
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