No. 5.
416
0.0.
15320
Mr. Bar-Ironside to the Marquess of Salisbury.--(Received May 29.)
&
PEG 15 JUN 99!
Peking, May 13, 1899,
(No. 87.) My Lord,
I HAVE the honour to inclose herewith to your Lordship copy of a despatch which I have received from Her Majesty's Consul at Samshui, inclosing correspondence with the provincial authorities regarding the presence of Her Majesty's ship "Sandpiper" in the West River.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
H. O. BAR-IRONSIDE.
(No. 7.) Sir,
Inclosure 1 in No. 5.
Acting Consul Fox to Sir C. MacDonald.
Samshui, March 24, 1899,
I HAVE the honour to inclose translation and copy of a despatch, addressed to me by the Viceroy and Governor at Canton, on the subject of the presence of Her Majesty's ship "Sandpiper" on the West River, together with copy and translation of my reply.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
HARRY H. FOX.
Inclosure 2 in No. 5.
Viceroy Tan and Governor Lu to Acting Consul Fox.
March 10, 1899. (Translation.)
WE beg to state that the Samshui District Magistrate yesterday reported to us that he had received a visit from the Commander of a small gun-boat, who stated that he had received orders from the British Admiral in Hong Kong to patrol the West River.
We are aware that the Kuantung province is infested by robbers, and that piracies on its waters are of frequent occurrence, and the naval authorities on the seaboard and inland waterways have been repeatedly instructed to use every effort to repress these disorders. Wherever Chinese or foreign merchant-vessels have been attacked, the authorities concerned have promptly arrested and punished the offenders.
Thus, for example, on the 19th December, 1897, a despatch was received from the Consul, stating that the Hong Kong steamer "Chia Hlsün," having a native boat in tow, was, at a place called Sha Chiao, in Hsinan district (Sunon), attacked by pirates, who plundered the native boat of all its cargo. The Hsinan Magistrate captured the robbers, and a certain Chen Chieh Tsai, mentioned in the Consul's despatch, suffered the penalty of decapitation.
Again, on the 30th June, 1898, the steam-launch "Kuang-fu" was pirated at Chu Tou Shan, in Hsinhui (Sunoi) district, and further, on the 31st October, 1898, a steam-launch, belonging to the Kuang Yün Company, was robbed at Ma-an-Shan between Hsinhui and Shuntê districts.
In both these cases the local, civil, and military authorities reported that they had captured the culprits and punished them.
Whenever British steamers have been attacked, stringent orders have in every case, on receipt of a despatch from the Consul, been issued to the officials concerned, to make prompt arrests.
In the matter of protecting foreign merchant-vessels, action has always promptly been taken in accordance with Treaty.
The robbers of this province are of a violent disposition, and they continually come in conflict with the officials, in the course of which encounters people have been killed and wounded on both sides.
1
No. 5.
416
0.0.
15320
Mr. Bar-Ironside to the Marquess of Salisbury.--(Received May 29.)
&
PEG 15 JUN 99!
Peking, il 13, 1800,
(No. 87.) My Lord,
I HAVE the honour to inclose herewith to your Lordship copy of a despatch which I have received from Her Majesty's Consul at Samshui, inclosing correspondence with the provincial authorities regarding the presence of Her Majesty's ship "Sandpiper" in the West River.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
H. O. BAX-IRONSIDE.
(No. 7.) Sir,
Inclosure 1 in No. 5.
Acting Consul Fox to Sir C. MacDonald.
Samshui, March 24, 1899, I HAVE the honour to inclose translation and copy of a despatch, addressed to me by the Viceroy and Governor at Canton, on the subject of the presence of Her Majesty's ship "Sandpiper" on the West River, together with copy and translation of my reply.
I have, &c. (Signed)
HARRY H. FOX.
Inclosure 2 in No. 5.
Viceroy Tan and Governor Lu to Acting Consul For.
March 10, 1899. (Translation.)
WE beg to state that the Samshui District Magistrate yesterday reported to us that he had received a visit from the Commander of a small gun-boat, who stated that he had received orders from the British Admiral in Hong Kong to patrol the West River.
We are aware that the Kuantung province is infested by robbers, and that piracies on its waters are of frequent occurrence, and the naval authorities on the seaboard and inland waterways have been repeatedly instructed to use every effort to repress these disorders. Wherever Chinese or foreign merchant-vessels have been attacked, the authorities concerned have promptly arrested and punished the offenders.
Thus, for example, on the 19th December, 1897, a despatch was received from the Consul, stating that the Hong Kong steamer "Chia Hlsün," having a native boat in tow, was, at a place called Sha Chiao, in Hsinan district (Sunon), attacked by pirates, who plundered the native boat of all its cargo. The Hsinan Magistrate captured the robbers, and a certain Chen Chieh Tsai, mentioned in the Consul's despatch, suffered the penalty of decapitation.
Again, on the 30th June, 1899, the steam-launch "Kuang-fu" was pirated at Chu Tou Shan, in Hsinhui (Sunoi) district, and further, on the 31st October, 1898, a steam-launch, belonging to the Kuang Yün Company, was robbed at Ma-an-Shan between Hsinhui and Shuntê districts.
In both these cases the local, civil, and military authorities reported that they had captured the culprits and punished them.
Whenever British steamers have been attacked, stringent orders have in every case, on receipt of a despatch from the Consul, been issued to the officials concerned, to make prompt arrests.
In the matter of protecting foreign merchant-vessels, action has always promptly been taken in accordance with Treaty.
The robbers of this province are of a violent disposition, and they continually come in conflict with the officials, in the course of which encounters people have been killed and wounded on both sides.
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