CO129-285 - Acting Governor Major Gen Black - 1898 [9-10] — Page 272

intentions

of

to

France with respect Sunnan, Kwang-

Kwang - Si, and tung give point to this Kiang-tung newspaper tirade; and taben in conjunction with the activity of

France in Sze-Chuen show that the future of these Chinek previces has passed beyond the acadence stage.

I have the honour to be

Sir

Your most obedient

humble servant

Wissme Back

Maj - General

OAG

C

FRENCH AND BRITISH INFLUENCE IN KWANGTUNG.

A

KNOCK-OUT BLOW FOR GREAT BRITAIN

AND THE " DALLY PRESS.”

In the Daily Press of the 13th August ap peared a leading article on the alleged French protest against the granting of a concession to Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co. for tho con- straction of a railway from Canton to Kowloon, Ju the course of the article the term "The offroutery of the alleged protest" was employed. The Avenir du Tonkin in its issue of the 17th September, has an article in reply honded "Effroutés, et pourquoi ?" which is solemnly "Dedié un Reducteur du Hongkong Daily Preas." We trauslate the article as follows:-

You say, sir, that France has committed an affront in regard to England. That is a big word to address, as you address it, to a friendly nation. The affair, theu, must be of major importance to induce yon to depart from propriety of language. Let us look at it closely then. It concerns the railway from Canton to Kowloon You wish to get the line for the ad- vantage of England. Our Ambassador at Peking opposes it. Henos we are, according to you, efrontés. Efrontés say you? And why?

With us effrontés are those who arrogate to themselves rights they do not possess and who refuse recognition to the rights of others. How do you make cut that we are not right in this maiter of Kwangtung? How do you make out that you have any rights?

A recent treaty, if I am not mistaker, places Yuunan, Kwangsi, and Kwauginug in the French sphere of action. What does that menu if not that Franco has acquired in those provinces, and especially in the province of Kwangtung, an exclusive and privileged posi- tiou? This province of Kwangtung, with the island of Hainan and the other two pro- vinces, is placed for the futura in the domain of France and for the prosont under her control. I had almost said under her pro-

China may still carry on the ul ministration and collect taxes there, but she can no longer act along in matters that might hin-

tection.

der the economical development, as France un- derstands it, of the territory which must shortly become ours, Wo have asked China to respect the treaty she has signed with us. And we have alfronted you! But why?

This treaty was known to you, to you English, for we bare pablisbed it far and wide

if you were not disposed to accept it you should have said so at the time and taken the chauve if necessary of a war with for the maintenance of the equilibrium that we had disturbed to your prejudice in the Far East. You remained silent, without fitting out a single ressel, drawing your sword, or even sending a diplomatie rofe.

Then came the occupation of Kwanchauwan; which we occupied, with or without effrontery, in excention of the treaty. Englund remained silent and once more by her silence ratified the treaty that we had published. We were not efrontés, then, for executing the treaty in part. Why have we suddenly become effrontés for desiring to oxecute the other part, which

gives us a privileged position at Canton ? I know that in this lutter circumstance we have crossed in a more direct manner your views and wishes; but why have you placed yourselves in a position to be crossed Why did you ask for a concession that might be dis- agreeable to us and on territory that must become French ? There was effrontery there, if you like, but it was not on our side.

And this was not the first effrontery on your

part. Already, in order to aggrandise, so to speak, your port of Hongkong, you had taken with Kowloon a good slice of territory cutting into this future French province.

We might have opposed it under the rights conferred upon us by the treaty. You, seeing this first affrout pass unpunished, have committed a second by asking for a con-

cession for a railway connecting Canton and Hougkong. This time we kick, and then you treat us as effrontés, thus attributing your own qualities to others.

And besides, why this request for a concession for a railway when you can go by the West River You have boasted urbi et orbi that the opening of this river constituted an enormous diplomadic success. If this success was so great, if the way to Cantou and beyond was so widely

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1 ཟm s e opened, why uselessly teaser by vaduo for ? a railway which would have to use the com- petition of an already existing maritime and river route? Teasing and affrontery: are these the bottom of your national character ?

Meanwhile you treat us as effrontés, aud tho term is for us full of charm, for what you call effrontery in English is in this case translated into French as firmness in assuring respect for our rights. Now, this fiemones, or this effroutery, whichever you like, we have had in the past and will continue to have in the future. Efrontés we are, efrontés we remaiu. Will not this reduce to nothing your tensings

and impropriety ?

Extract from the "Daily Press" of Hong Kong.

23 September 1898