CO129-314 - Public Offices - 1902 — Page 307

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

AFFAIRS OF CHINA.

CONFIDENTIAL.

No. 1.

[April 28.]

SECTION 5.

Acting Consul-General Scott to the Marquess of Lansdowne.—(Received April 28.)

(No. 24. Confidential.) My Lord,

Canton, March 20, 1902.

I HAVE the honour to inclose herewith copy of my despatch No. 24, Confidential, of the 17th instant to His Majesty's Minister in Peking, reporting the recent interview of the French Minister with the Governor, acting for the Viceroy, with respect to French appli- cations for a special settlement in Honan, Canton, and clains for railway concessions in Kuang-tung and the Island of Hainau.

I have, &c.

Inclosure in No. 1.

(Signed)

JAMES SCOTT.

(No. 24. Sir,

Acting Consul-General Scott to Sir E. Satow.

Confidential.)

Canton, March 17, 1902. I BEG to report that the French Minister, M. Beau, arrived in Canton a few days ago and visited the Chinese authorities. I learn indirectly from reliable sources that during his interview with the Governor of the province, acting during the Viceroy's illness, the French Minister raised the question of settlement matters, and more particularly the application of the French Consul for a new Concession on Honan as an addition to the present Concession on Shameen.

The Governor recalled the assurance given recently by the French Consul that the matter had been dropped. But the French Minister stated that since that date he had received instructions from his Government refusing to agree to any international settlement as proposed by the Viceroy; and that the United States' Consul was still agitating for a special American Concession. He added that he had no wish to press the question, and would be content with an assurance from the provincial authorities that the part of Honan on the other side of the river now desired, and opposite the present French Concession, should never be included in any international settlement, nor granted specially to any other Power, but would be reserved against possible future contingencies for the use of French trade and interests.

The Governor hesitated to commit his authorities to any such undertaking, and asked the French Minister to direct his nationals, if in need of land or houses, to make their own arrangements with the native owners direct according to Treaty.

M. Beau explained that the prices were prohibitive, and without the assistance of the Chinese officials nothing satisfactory was possible.

M. Beau further stated that the matter was not urgent; he merely desired an assurance that this special place should be reserved for future requirements of French subjects. Pressed on the point, the Governor declared that, if any new Concession was hereafter granted to any Power, France would be entitled to equal treatment, and that the question of site would then be considered.

I beg to add that I have taken the opportunity to convey an intimation to the authorities that any compliance with the request of the French Minister in respect to reserving a special part of Honan for future French requirements will involve them and their Government in difficulties, and allow France to claim a prescriptive right to the locality which one day China would have to surrender whenever a missionary difficulty

comes to be settled.

M. Beau also alluded to the Railway Agreement recently made in Canton with the late Li Hung-chang; as also to the application of the French Consul for a tramway in Hainan.

The Governor stated that the Viceroy was not prepared to take any action in favour of the Railway Agreement; that the Chinese Government would only grant a Railway

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