381
Government must conclude that they were ignorant of or had no control over the proceedings of the Viceroy of Canton and the local authorities and would have to deal locally with the matters at issue without referring to the Government at Peking.
Mr. Bax Ironside addressed a Note in the above sense to the Yamen on the 1st instant.
These repeated representations made to the Yamen led to no result, and after more than a week had elapsed, the Viceroy of Canton not having removed the Chinese troops from Kowloon city, and information having reached the Governor of Hongkong of preconcerted plans for the invasion of the leased territory by large numbers of roughs from the northern boundary, the Governor was authorized to deal with the matter locally, and, with approval of Her Majesty's Government, Kowloon city and Samchun were occupied by the British forces.
In view of the fact that the Chinese Government do not hold themselves responsible for attacks by local mobs on British troops, the obligation falls upon Her Majesty's Government of performing the duty which is usually performed by the Sovereign of the country, but which the Chinese Government decline.
After the recent experience which they have had not only of the worthlessness of the protection extended by the Chinese garrison at Kowloon, but of the additional danger involved in its presence, it is impossible for Her Majesty's Government to allow the resumption of Chinese Authority within the walls of that city.
As regards Samchun, the question of the permanent arrangements to be made in respect to it must be reserved for future consideration, but as it appears to have been the principal basis of the attacks on the British forces it will be necessary that it should remain provisionally in British occupation for the protection of the leased territory and the maintenance...
381
Goverment must conclude that they were ignorant of
or had no control over the proceedings of the Vice-
roy of Canton and the local authorities and would
have to deal locally with the matters at issue with-
out referring to the Government at Peking.
Mr. Bax Ironside addressed a Note in the above
senee to the Yamen on the 1st. instant.
These repeated representations made to the
Yamen led to no result, and after more than a week had
elapsed, the Viceroy of Canton not having removed the
Chinese troops from Kowloon city, and information
having reached the Governor of Hongkong of precon-
certed plans for the invasion of the leased terri-
tory by large numbers of roughs from the northern
boundary, the Governor was authorized to deal with y
the matter locally, and, with approval of Her Ma-
jesty's Government, Kowloon city and Shanchun were
occupied by the British forces.
In view of the fact that the Chinese Goverment
do not hold themselves responsible for attacks by
local mobs on British troops, the obligation falls
upon Her Majesty's Goverment of performing the duty
which is usually performed by the Sovereign of the
country, but which the Chinese Government decline.
After the recent experience which they have had not
only of the worthlessness of the protection extend-
ed by the Chinese garrison at Kowloon, but of the ad-
ditional danger involved in its presence, it is im-
possible for Her Majesty's Goverment to allow the re-
sumption of Chinese Authority within the walls of
that city.
As regards Samchun, the question of the permia-
nent arrangements to be made in respect to it must
be reserved for future consideration, but as it ap-
pears to have been the principal basis of the attacks
on the British forces it will be necessary that it
should remain provisionally in British occupation for
the protection
of the leased territory and the main-
do
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