att
9
Now that the Admiral has sent up a man-of-war to afford protection to British interests, this vessel will doubtless be quite capable of coping with the robbers.
Hereafter, should a British man-of-war come into conflict with pirates on the inland waters and people be wounded in the encounter, China cannot be held responsible, nor China be blamed if, owing to remissness, the British war-ship is not able to protect itself.
Having regard to the friendly relations which exist between our two countries, we feel bound to explain matters beforehand so as to avoid future complications.
If British men-of-war cease to come (up the West River), China will afford protection as before.
We have, therefore, the honour to address you this despatch, with a request that you will make known its contents to the Admiral in Hong Kong.
(Seals of Viceroy and Governor.)
Inclosure 3 in No. 5.
Acting Consul Fox to Viceroy Tun and Governor Lu.
March 20, 1899.
Your Excellencies,
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge receipt of your despatch, dated the 10th instant, referring to the presence of a British gun-boat on the West River. (Follows quotation from Viceroy and Governor's despatch.)
I have, as requested, forwarded a copy of your despatch to his Excellency the British Admiral in Hong Kong.
In this connection, I have to observe that the responsibility of China for the control of her inland waterways and the protection of commerce, both native and foreign, is not a question the discussion of which properly falls within my province. It is an international matter, which has long since been amicably settled between our respective Governments.
I content myself with pointing out to your Excellencies that the sending of a British gun-boat up the West River differs in no respect from the custom which has prevailed for many years on the Yang-tsze Kiang, where, although its peaceful state is striking contrast to the present disturbed condition of the West River, the war-ships of all nations come and go constantly.
Regarding the fears you express as to the safety of the British gun-boat, I am in a position to state that you need have no anxiety on that point, the gun-boat being very well able to defend itself should it be attacked by pirates.
With reference to the cases of piracy mentioned in your despatch as having been settled satisfactorily, I observe that one case occurred in December 1897, considerably over a year ago, and the others date from July and October 1898 respectively. They can therefore hardly be quoted as applicable to the present state of affairs.
I would, however, point out that the cases referred to in my despatch of the 25th January last, namely, the piracies of two steamers flying the British flag, the steam-ship "Tungkong" in November 1898, and the steam-ship "Kongsoo" on the 24th January, 1899, still remain unsettled, none of the offenders, as far as I am aware, having been arrested, nor any of the stolen property recovered. The statement therefore, in your Excellencies' despatch, to the effect that "whenever Chinese or foreign vessels have been attacked, the authorities concerned have promptly arrested and punished the offenders," does not seem at the present time to be borne out by facts.
As in your former despatch you stated that the local, civil, and military officials had been ordered to settle the "Kongsoo case" within a given time, I beg that you will be good enough to direct the officials in question, should they be unable to discover the culprits or recover any of the stolen property, to compensate the owners of the "Kongsoo" in proportion to their losses.
HARRY H. FOX,
(Signed)
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Page 421
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Now that the Admiral has sent up a man-of-war to afford protection to Britis417 interests, this vessel will doubtless be quite capable of coping with the robbers.
Hereafter, should a British man-of-war come into conflict with pirates on the inland giters and people be wounded in the encounter, China cannot be held responsible, nor China be blamed if, owing to remissness, the British war-ship is not able to protect
itself.
Having regard to the friendly relations which exist between our two countries, we feel bound to explain matters beforehand so as to avoid future complications.
If British men-of-war cease to come (up the West River), China will afford protection
as before.
We have, therefore, the honour to address you this despatch, with a request that you will make known its contents to the Admiral in Hong Kong.
(Seals of Viceroy and Governor.)
Inclosure 3 in No. 5.
Acting Consul Fox to Viceroy Tun and Governor Lu.
March 20, 1899.
Your Excellencies,
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge receipt of your despatch, dated the 10th instant, referring to the presence of a British gun-boat on the West River. (Follows quotation from Viceroy and Governor's despatch.)
I have, as requested, forwarded a copy of your despatch to his Excellency the British Admiral in Hong Kong.
In this connection, I have to observe that the responsibility of China for the control
of her inland waterways and the protection of commerce, both native and foreign, is not a question the discussion of which properly falls within my province. It is an international matter, which has long since been amicably settled between our respective Governments.
I content myself with pointing out to your Excellencies that the sending of a British gun-boat up the West River differs in no respect from the custom which has prevailed for many years on the Yang-tsze Kiang, where, although its peaceful state is striking contrast to the present disturbed condition of the West River, the war-ships of all nations come and go constantly.
Regarding the fears you express as to the safety of the British gun-boat, I am in a position to state that you need have no anxiety on that point, the gun-boat being very well able to defend itself should it be attacked by pirates.
With reference to the cases of piracy mentioned in your despatch as having been ettled satisfactorily, I observe that one case occurred in December 1897, considerably over a year ago, and the others date from Jaly and October 1898 respectively. They can therefore hardly be quoted as applicable to the present state of affairs.
I would, however, point out that the cases referred to in my despatch of the 25th January last, namely, the piracies of two steamers flying the British flag, the steam-ship Tungkong" in November 1898, and the steam-ship "Kongsoo" on the 24th January, 1899, still remain unsettled, none of the offenders, as far as I am aware, having been rrested, nor any of the stolen property recovered. The statement therefore, in your excellencies' despatch, to the effect that "whenever Chinese or foreign vessels have been attacked, the authorities concerned have promptly arrested and punished the fenders," does not seem at the present time to be borne out by facts.
As in your former despatch you stated that the local, civil, and military officials had een ordered to settle the "Kongsoo case" within a given time, I beg that you will be good enough to direct the officials in question, should they be unable to discover the rates or recover any of the stolen property, to compensate the owners of the Kongsoo" in proportion to their losses.
HARRY H. FOX,
(Signed)
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