2
I have the honour to request your Highness and your Excellencies to favour a reply without delay containing the desired assurance with respect to Chinese wi shown themselves friendly to our troops during the occupation of Shamchun, in or I may transmit the same by telegraph to Her Majesty's Government.
I avail, &c. (Signed)
H. O. BAX-IRONS
to Harlempore Pre
PEKING.
C. O.
7000
A
REP & WAR Y
15th. December 1899.
437
(Translation.) Sir,
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
:
The Tsung-li Yamén to Mr. Bax-Ironside.
Peking, November 15, 1899. ON the 6th instant we received your despatch with respect to the withdrawal of the British troops from Shamchun.
[Quoted at length.]
We have the honour to observe that it affords abundant evidence of friendly relations that Her Majesty's Government have been able to fulfil their promise in connection with this affair, and have instructed the Governor of Hong Kong to withdraw the troops from Shamchun within the previously determined boundary.
With regard to the protection of friendly Chinese outside this boundary we have telegraphed to the Governor-General of Canton to instruct the local authorities to act in accordance with the request.
It was, however, expressly stipulated by the Hong Kong Extension Convention that within the city of Kowloon the Chinese officials then stationed there should continue to exercise jurisdiction. The international relations of China and Great Britain are naturally guided by the provisions of the Treaties, which should be carefully observed by both nations. It is therefore right and necessary, in order that there may be no infringement of the Convention, that the officials of China stationed in Kowloon city for the purpose shall continue to administer the affairs of the Chinese subjects within that town.
We have the honour to request your Excellency to telegraph at once to Her Majesty's Government requesting that, in accordance with the Convention, consent be given to the exercise of jurisdiction in Kowloon city by Chinese officials.
Thus will good faith be manifested and cordial relations remain intact. We beg the favour of a reply.
No. 2.
(Seal of Yamên.)
Mr. Bar-onside to the Marquess of Salisbury.(Received January 8, 1900.)
(No. 328.) My Lord,
Peking, November 18, 1899.
I HAVE the honour to state that I paid a farewell visit yesterday to the Tsung-li
Yamên.
The Ministers received me with great courtesy.
During my official tenure of this post many changes have occurred in the constitution of the Tsung-li Yamên, chief amongst them being the enforced retirement of Li Hung- chang, and the banishment of Chang Yin-huan, the net result has been to show a conaiderable weakening of that, body, and a somewhat remarkable lack of independence amongst the individual members has lately become markedly noticeable,
It is very apparent that the Tsung-li Yamên acts as an effective buffer to shield the Privy Council from direct intercourse with foreigners, and the practical impossibility of discussing matters of State with members of the Privy Council direct, tends to increase the difficulties at present surrounding negotiations with the Chinese Government.
I have, &c.
(Signed) H. O. BAX-IRONSIDE.
345.
7
My Lord:-
The Note from the Tsungli Yamen on the sub-
ject of the evacuation of Sharichun, translation of
which was enclosed in my despatch No.327 of November
17th, contained a request that Her Majesty's Govern-
ment would allow the resumption of Chinese jurisdic-
tion within the City of Kowloon.
I have the honour to report that at an
interview which I had yesterday with the Prince and
Ministers of the Yamen, Their Excellencies again re-
ferred to the announcement that had been made to them
that Her Majesty's Government adhered to the decision
not to concede this point. They declared that the
matter was one of great importance, not because Kow-
loon City itself was at all important, but because
the position of this City in regard to the Kowloon
e Marquess of Salisbury, K.G.,
&C.,
&c., &0.
150
Convention
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