AFFAIRS
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[December 4.1901]
SECTION 1.
437208
No. 1.
Sir C. MacDonald to the Marquess of Lansdowne,- (Received December 4.)
(No. 134. Very Confidential.) My Lord,
Tokió, October 25, 1901.
WITH reference to your Lordship's despatch No. 96, Confidential, of the 11th September, I have the honour to state that, in accordance with your Lordship's instructions, I mentioned to Mr. Komura, Minister for Foreign Affairs, the subject of Sir Henry Blake's despatch of the 2nd August relative to the French Government meditating a coup in Southern China, and inquired, confidentially, whether the Japanese Government had any information tending to confirm Sir Henry Blake's view.
Mr. Komura said that the Japanese Government had no such information; he thought that the recent landing of a cable at Amoy probably gave rise to such rumours. With regard to Sir Henry Blake's opinion, contained in paragraph 5 of his despatch, that the port of Amoy would be the place at which the coup might be expected, Mr. Komura stated that the French Government had, before landing the cable at Amoy, informed the Japanese Government of their intention to do so, which would seem to show that they recognized that Japan, owing principally to the proximity of Amoy to Formosa, had special interests at the former place.
Mr. Komura intimated to me pretty clearly that in any attempt upon Amoy, Japan would have to be dealt with. I doubt very much, therefore, that, even if the French do contemplate a coup in South China, they will select Amoy as the base, or indeed any part of their operations.
I have, &c. (Signed)
CLAUDE M. MACDONALD,
[2498 d-1]
AFFAIRS
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[December 4.1381
SECTION 1.
437208
No. 1.
Sir C. MacDonald to the Marquess of Lansdowne,- (Received December 4.)
(No. 134. Very Confidential.) My Lord,
Tokió, October 25, 1901.
WITH reference to your Lordship's despatch No. 96, Confidential, of the 11th September, I have the honour to state that, in accordance with your Lordship's instructions, I mentioned to Mr. Komura, Minister for Foreign Affairs, the subject of Sir Henry Blake's despatch of the 2nd August relative to the French Government meditating a coup in Southern China, and inquired, confidentially, whether the Japanese Government had any information tending to confirm Sir Henry Blake's view.
Mr. Komura said that the Japanese Government had no such information; he thought that the recent landing of a cable at Amoy probably gave rise to such rumours. With regard to Sir Henry Blake's opinion, contained in paragraph 5 of his despatch, that the port of Amoy would be the place at which the coup might be expected, Mr. Komura stated that the French Government had, before landing the cable at Amoy, informed the Japanese Government of their intention to do so, which would seem to show that they recognized that Japan, owing principally to the proximity of Amoy to Formosa, had special interests at the former place.
Mr. Komura intimated to me pretty clearly that in any attempt upon Amoy, Japan would have to be dealt with. I doubt very much, therefore, that, even if the French do contemplate a coup in South China, they will select Amoy as the base, or indeed any part of their operations.
I have, &c. (Signed)
CLAUDE M. MACDONALD,
[2498 d-1]
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