501
[This Document is the Property of Her Britannic Majesty's Government]
22672
&
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
No 1.
[August 21st]
SECTION
25 AUG 89
(No. 192.) My Lord,
Mr. Bax-Ironside to the Marquess of Salisbury.—(Received August 21.)
Peking, July 4, 1899,
IN continuation of my despatch No. 162 of the 14th ultimo on the subject of piracy in the waterways of the Canton Province, I have the honour to inclose copy of a further despatch which I have received from Mr. Mansfield, reporting on his action in connection with the Wo-on case.
25
With reference to the concluding paragraph of my despatch above mentioned, I beg to call your Lordship's attention to the Consul's statement that piracy cases of this kind are of daily occurrence, and that he has indicated to the Viceroy the head-quarters of the pirates on the West River, but that nothing has been done to suppress them, it being currently reported that the local authorities on the West River are bribed by the pirates. Mr. Mansfield describes the situation as "a reign of terror, which is seriously injuring trade."
Referring to Mr. Mansfield's contention that compensation for the losses incurred by the Chinese passengers on the launch should be demanded of the Chinese Government, I adhere to the opinion that such a claim could not properly be presented by the British authorities. The fact that the property of these passengers was under the protection of the British flag does not entitle them to claim against British owners or against Her Majesty's Government for losses due to the supineness of the Chinese authorities.
Mr. Mansfield says that in former anti-foreign riots in British Concessions compensation to Chinese has been insisted on; but I am not aware that this has been done except where such Chinese were in the employ of British subjects; nor does such a contention, even if valid, affect the present question.
I have, &c. (Signed)
H. C. BAX-IRONSIDE.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Sir,
Consul Mansfield to Mr. Bax-Ironside.
Canton, June 13, 1899.
ON the 10th instant I had the honour to receive your telegram in cypher to the effect that my despatch No. 23 ("Wo-on" piracy case) did not give sufficient details, and asking if there was any European on board, and, if so, in what capacity; who were the owners of the property looted, and in what proportions it was owned by the launch or its employés, or by passengers.
To this I had the same day the honour to reply in cypher that there was no European on board, and that, of the property looted, 2,000 dollars belonged to the launch and its employés, and 5,000 dollars to the seventy-four passengers who were on board.
I had yesterday the honour to receive a further telegram in cypher from you to the effect that you sanctioned a claim for the losses of the launch, but did not see how a claim could be made for the losses of the Chinese passengers, for which the launch is not liable.
I have this day sent you a reply to the above in cypher to the effect that the Chinese passengers were under the protection of the British flag, and that in former anti-foreign riots in British Concessions compensation to Chinese had been insisted on; that piracy and robbery are carried on with absolute impunity here, and that, though the Viceroy has had repeated warnings, no serious attempt has been made to stop them; that if the Chinese claim could not be recognized by you, I proposed that a fine should be demanded, a lesson being urgently required in view of the present state of lawlessness in this province.
[2095 g-1]
501
[This Document is the Property of Her Britannic Majesty's Governmente
22672
&
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
No 1.
[August 214c
SECTION
25 AUG 39
(No. 192.) My Lord,
Mr. Bax-Ironside to the Marquess of Salisbury.—(Received August 21.)
Peking, July 4, 1899, IN continuation of my despatch No. 162 of the 14th ultimo on the subject of piracy in the waterways of the Canton Province, I have the honour to inclose copy of a further despatch which I have received from Mr. Mansfield, reporting on his action in connection with theWo-on case.
25
With reference to the concluding paragraph of my despatch above mentioned, I beg to call your Lordship's attention to the Consul's statement that piracy cases of this kind are of daily occurrence, and that he has indicated to the Viceroy the head-quarters of the pirates on the West River, but that nothing has been done to suppress them, it being currently reported that the local authorities on the West River are bribed by the pirates. Mr. Mansfield describes the situation as "a reign of terror, which is seriously injuring trade."
Referring to Mr. Mansfield's contention that compensation for the losses incurred by the Chinese passengers on the launch should be demanded of the Chinese Government, I adhere to the opinion that such a claim could not properly be presented by the British authorities. The fact that the property of these passengers was under the protection of the British flag does not entitle them to claim against British owners or against Her Majesty's Government for losses due to the supineness of the Chinese authorities.
Mr. Mansfield says that in former anti-foreign riots in British Concessions compensa- tion to Chinese has been insisted cn; but I am not aware that this has been done except where such Chinese were in the employ of British subjects; nor does such a contention, even if valid, affect the present question.
I have, &c. (Signed)
H. C. BAX-IRONSIDE.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Sir,
Consul Mansfield to Mr. Bax-Ironside.
Canton, June 13, 1899.
ON the 10th instant I had the honour to receive your telegram in cypher to the effect that my despatch No. 23 ("Wo-on" piracy case) did not give sufficient details, and asking if there was any European on board, and, if so, in what capacity; who were the owners of the property looted, and in what proportions it was owned by the launch or its employés, or by passengers.
To this I had the same day the honour to reply in cypher that there was no European on board, and that, of the property looted, 2,000 dollars belonged to the launch and its employés, and 5,000 dollars to the seventy-four passengers who were on board.
I had yesterday the honour to receive a further telegram in cypher from you to the effect that you sanctioned a claim for the losses of the launch, but did not see how a claim could be made for the losses of the Chinese passengers, for which the launch is not liable.
I have this day sent you a reply to the above in cypher to the effect that the Chinese passengers were under the protection of the British flag, and that in former anti-foreign riots in British Concessions compensation to Chinese had been insisted on; that piracy and robbery are carried on with absolute impunity here, and that, though the Viceroy has had repeated warnings, ao serious attempt has been made to stop them; that if the Chinese claim could not be recognized by you, I proposed that a fine should be demanded, a lesson being urgently required in view of the present state of lawlessness in this province.
[2095 g-1]
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