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Inclosure 4 in No. 4.
Liu, Taotai, to Acting Consul Spence.
(Translation.) (Extract.)
January 19, 1885. THE Taotai has further to state that in this renewed blockade the French have smashed up or seized every private junk they have fallen in with far and near, in most flagrant disregard of international law. Whilst the Chinese have received the Emperor's commands to extend to French merchants who are content to remain in China the same protection given to neutrals, the French on the other hand work their will on innocent Chinese, and kill and destroy them. And their cruelty extends even to charcoal junks on coasting trips, and little boats anchored along the shore. More hard-hearted and more wanton barbarity than this there cannot be.
The Taotai has made a detailed statement of the damage suffered by junks, day by day, which he begs to inclose. He requests the Consul to read it and send it on to Her Majesty's Government and the other Governments which the Consul represents here, for their information.
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