[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 1.
219
[January 29.]
SECTION 4.
(RECOGNITION OF)
Consul-General Scott to the Marquess of Lansdowne.--(Received January 29, 190[?])
(No. 1.) My Lord,
Canton, December 21, 1900.
UNDER instructions from Her Majesty's Legation I have the honour to inclose herewith copy of a despatch which I addressed to Sir Ernest Satow on the 15th November last, respecting the state of affairs in the Two Kwang Provinces.
I have, &c. (Signed)
B. C. GEORGE SCOTT.
Inclosure in No. 1.
8092.
Sir,
Consul-General Scott to Sir E. Satow.
Canton, November 15, 1900.
I HAVE the honour, in reply to your telegram of the 9th instant, to state that I have replied by telegraph to the following effect:-
"The outlook in these provinces is not serious although there is unrest, and indefinite revolutionary schemes exist. At no time dangerous the rising in Hui-chow has been suppressed, and the natives of Canton remained indifferent.
"Of rebellion in Kuanghsi, actual or intended, nothing is known, but Kang and Sun's adherents plot and talk with impunity in Hong Kong where rumours originate. I think successful revolution impossible, as rebels appear to have no definite plan, and authorities vis-à-vis people are stronger than formerly.”
The above is, I believe, a correct view of the situation at present. While the city of Canton itself and the immediate neighbourhood remain perfectly quiet, and while, with the exception of the rising in the Hui-chow Prefecture, there are no actual insurrections in other parts of these two provinces, the officials are to a certain extent uneasy; there is generally feeling of unrest, and in some quarters treason is talked and vague revolutionary schemes discussed. But so far as I, and I may add my colleagues, can judge, there are no actual signs of any serious revolutionary movement. It is, I think, a cause for surprise and satisfaction that, in the circumstances prevailing at the present moment in China, the unrest and excitement in these turbulent and ill-governed provinces are not much more accentuated.
The rising in Hui-chow when it began for a moment looked as though it might be serious, but it was quickly evident that there was nothing in it; that the modern arms with which the rebels were armed were of little use, and that the Imperial troops, as has been the case, would succeed in suppressing it. The authorities were alarmed, and have acted energetically, and I do not think it is probable that this rebellion will break out again.
During its course nearly every statement that appeared on the subject was false or greatly exaggerated. It was never in the least formidable, and the Chinese in Canton treated the subject, when they could be induced to speak of it, with absolute indifference—a sure sign that the affair was by them considered of little moment, and, as a matter of fact, the rebels actually accomplished nothing.
It seems probable that the adherents of Sun Yat Sen, or Sun Wen, as he is also called, were responsible for this abortive rising, and it is probable the Reformers and Kang Ya Wei's party generally were mixed up in it. All these people have their headquarters, it is asserted, in Hong Kong and Macao. This is probably the case, although it seems certain that neither Sun Yat Sen nor Kang Yu Wei themselves are, or have lately been, in either place. In Hong Kong and Macao these people plot and talk treason at their ease, and it is from them that the rumours of rebellion and revolution, of intended attacks on foreigners and on the Chinese Government and officials, and the thousand and one stories that reach the foreign and native press, emanate. So far as
[114]
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
f
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 1.
219
[January 29.]
SECTION 4.
(
RECO
Consul-General Scott to the Marquess of Lansdowne.--(Received January 29, 180EG OF
(No. 1.) My Lord,
Canton, December 21, 1900. UNDER instructions from Her Majesty's Legation I have the honour to inclose herewith copy of a despatch which I addressed to Sir Ernest Satow ou the 15th November last, respecting the state of affairs in the Two Kwang Provinces.
I have, &c. (Signed)
B. C. GEORGE SCOTT.
Inclosure in No. 1.
8092.
Sir,
Consul-General Scott to Sir E. Satow.
Canton, November 15, 1900.
I HAVE the honour, in reply to your telegram of the 9th instant, to state that I have replied by telegraph to the following effect:-
"The outlook in these provinces is not serious although there is unrest, and indefinite revolutionary schemes exist. At no time dangerous the rising in Hui-chow has been suppressed, and the natives of Canton remained indifferent.
"Of rebellion in Kuanghsi, actual or intended, nothing is known, but Kang and Sun's adherents plot and talk with impunity in Hong Kong where rumours originate. I think successful revolution impossible, as rebels appear to have no definite plan, and authorities vis-à-vis people are stronger than formerly.”
The above is, I believe, a correct view of the situation at present. While the city of Canton itself and the immediate neighbourhood remain perfectly quiet, and while, with the exception of the rising in the Hni-chow Prefecture, there are no actual insurrections in other parts of these two provinces, the officials are to a certain extent uneasy; there is generally feeling of unrest, and in some quarters treason is talked and vague revolutionary schemes discussed. But so far as I, and I may add my colleagues, can judge, there are no actual signs of any serious revolutionary movement. It is, I think, a cause for surprise and satisfaction that, in the circumstances prevailing at the present moment in China, the unrest and excitement in these turbulent and ill- governed provinces are not much more accentuated.
The rising in Hui-chow when it began for a moment looked as though it might be serious, but it was quickly evident that there was nothing in it; that the modern arms with which the rebels were armed were of little use, and that the Imperial troops, as has been the case, would succeed in suppressing it. The authorities were alarmed, and have acted energetically, and I do not think it is probable that this rebellion will break out again.
During its course nearly every statement that appeared on the subject was false or greatly exaggerated. It was never in the least formidable, and the Chinese in Canton treated the subject, when they could be induced to speak of it, with absolute indifference--- a sure sign that the affair was by them considered of little moment, and, as a matter of fact, the rebels actually accomplished nothing.
It seems probable that the adherents of Sun Yat Sen, or Sun Wen, as he is also called, were responsible for this abortive rising, and it is probable the Reformers and Kang Ya Wei's party generally were mixed up in it. All these people have their head- quarters it is asserted, in Hong Kong and Macao. This is probably the case, although it seems certain that neither Sun Yat Sen nor Kang Yu Wei themselves are, or have lately ben, in either place. In Hong Kong and Macao these people plot and talk treason a their ease, and it is from them that the rumours of rebellion and revolution, of intenced attacks on foreigners and on the Chinese Government and officials, and the thousandind one stories that reach the foreign and native press, emanate. So far as
[114]
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