CO129-304 - Governor Sir Blake - 1901 [1-4] — Page 588

ONFIDENTIAL.

emperthe

C.O.

16653

RECO

St.

Rock R MAY 01

Government Hopsg Long Trong.

582

April 12th, 1901.

Sir,

70.

I have the honour to enclose for your inform-

ation a cutting from the China Mail of yesterday giving an account

of the laying of a French cable to Amoy, as also of French activity

in Canton, where five French gun-boats have been stationed for some

months past.

2. With the, intimate relation that exists be-

tween Hongkong and Canton,the very rapid growth of French influence

there cannot be viewed with indifference. From a Chinese source I

hear that a demand for a French Concession outsude Shameen will pro-

bably be made. Twelve months ago the French flag was practically un-

known upon the West River. Now, as the cutting states, a number of

launches and junks have adopted the French flag, which will undoubt-

sily secure for them immediate compensation should any interference

with them be attempted, as the French have shown a determination to

adopt coercive measures in the event of any provocation,

3. The two gunboats of the Woodlark class con-

structed by Thorneycroft & Co. for the French Government, of which information was conveyed to you in my cypher telegram of January 5th.

1900, and by Major-General Gascoigne's Confidential despatch of 22×) June 1900, are now on the Pearl and West Rivers, where the French force is much stronger than ours. Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Seymour

agrees with me that in addition to the Sandpiper and the Robin we

ought to have two gunboats of the Woodlark class. The two gunboats