CO129-302 - Public Offices - 1900 — Page 443

This Document is the Property of Her Britannic Majesty's Government.]

AFFAIRS OF CHINA.

CONFIDENTIAL.

No. I.

[January 8.]

SECTION 1. 436

Mr. Bax-Ironside to the Marquess of Salisbury.-(Received January 8, 1900.)

(No. 327.) My Lord,

Peking, November 17, 1899. IN accordance with the instructions contained in your Lordship's telegram No. 181 of the 3rd instaut, I addressed a note to the Tsung-li Yamên on the 6th November, copy of which I have the honour to inclose, informing them that Her Majesty's Government had instructed the Governor of Hong Kong to withdraw from Shamchun within the boundary previously arranged. I requested the Minister to send me a written assurance that those Chinese in the district thus evacuated who had shown themselves friendly to the British troops would be protected by the Canton authorities.

I added that Her Majesty's Government adhered to their decision not to allow the resumption by the Chinese officials ef jurisdiction in Kowloon city.

On the 15th instant I received the Yamên's reply, translation of which I have the honour to inclose, to the effect that the Yamen had telegraphed to the Governor-General of Canton to instruct the local authorities concerned to afford the desired protection to the friendly Chinese.

The Ministers went on to argue that the refusal to allow the Chinese officials to exercise jurisdiction in Kowloon city was contrary to the Convention, and begged me to telegraph to your Lordship their request that Her Majesty's Government would permit the resumption of this jurisdiction.

I bad the honour to telegraph in the above sense to your Lordship on the

16th instant.

I have, &c. (Signed)

H. O. BAX-IRONSIDE.

Inclosure 1 in No: 1.

Mr. Bax-Ironside to the Tsung-li Yamên.

MM. les Ministres,

Peking, November 6, 1899, REFERRING to the note addressed to me on the 1st ultimo, requesting me to telegraph to Her Majesty's Government to ask that the Governor of Hong Kong might be instructed to withdraw the British troops from the territory of Shamchun, and to allow the Chinese authorities, in accordance with the special clause in the Agreement, to exercise jurisdiction within the city of Kowloon, I have the honour to state that, in accordance with your wishes, I brought the matter to the notice of Her Majesty's Government.

and

I am now in receipt of a telegraphic reply, instructing me to inform your Highness your Excellencies that the Governor of Hong Kong has been told to withdraw British troops from Shamchun within the boundary previously delimitated.

Sir Henry Blake bas been also directed to clearly inform the Viceroy of Canton that he is expected to protect those Chinese outside the boundary who have shown friendliness

to British troops during our occupation for maintaining law and order on the frontier, and for securing life and property,

I am instructed to obtain a pledge to this effect from the Tsung-li Yamên, and to add that failure on the part of the Viceroy of Canton to co-operate with the Colonial Govern- ment in this respect may lead to a second occupation.

On the 30th May last the Marquess of Salisbury addressed a note to the Chinese Minister in London stating the reasons why Her Majesty's Government cannot allow the resuniption by Chinese authorities of jurisdiction in Kowloon city.

Copy of this note was doubtless forwarded to your Highness and your Excellencies by the Chinese Minister, and Her Majesty's Government adhere to the decision therein contained.

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