Remarks.
Extract.
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Newspaper Extract.
FRENCH AMBITION IN SOUTH CHINA.---- Mr. A. Cunningham writes as follows in the "Kobe Herald
Whilst public attention is centered on Manchuria and the diplomatic contest at Peking, the matter which is actually of far greater importance to Great Britain, United States, and Japan is being overlooked. That is the aggression of France in South China, and the general situation in the Southern provinces. The coincidence of Russian demands in the North and French demands in the South, both sudden in their official application, suggests concerted action. France, if she had actually been much distressed or threatened by the rebellion in Kwangsi, might well have appealed to China for its suppression months ago. In fact, from an Imperial aspect the Chinese Government should be better able to cope with the rebellion and crush it now than it could have done hitherto, China, it is reported, is dispatching her ablest General, Tung Fu Siang, with his well-drilled and well-equipped troops, to take the matter in hand.
Remarks.
Not Tung Fuh Siang, but the active and able Viceroy of Szechuen, Ts'ên Ch'un-hsüan.
Extract.
There is not, and never has been, any fear of Tonquin being invaded by the numerous bands of brigands now disturbing the two Kwangs. The desolate, mountainous boundary of Tonquin and Kwangsi is effectively fortified by France and China, and is strongly garrisoned by French troops, so that France need not expect attacks, as in the past, from Chinese bandits. Even those raids were the consequence of her seizure of the territory, in clearing the country of Black Flags, and were not predatory movements. There is nothing on the wild and precipitous highlands of the Tonquin border likely to invite attacks from either Chinese revolutionist or brigand. The French are acquiring certain railway interests in Yunnan, but the inhabitants of this province are not feared by the French as being anti-foreign, and if they were France has very little there at present to lose. The only remaining point at which French territorial interests are likely to suffer from the troubles in South China, is the Colony (to call it by its real name) of Kwangchauwan. Here, given opportunity, the expenditure of much money, and a wise policy of self-government, French interests may one day become important; at present commercially they do not amount to a row of pins. Where, then, may well be asked, do French fears arising from the unsettled state of South China come in?
France has nothing actually to fear territorially, and the only possible assumption is that the unsettled condition of the two Kwangs has caused the French Minister to feel uneasy concerning French commercial interests in Kwangtung-first, at Kwangchauwan; secondly, at Canton. At Kwangchauwan French vested commercial interests at present are naturally small, and the French troops there, in conjunction with the fleet, are amply sufficient to deal with any rebel force which might possibly attack the settlement. There is but little loot in that Colony to attract rebels, therefore no fears need be entertained concerning the existence of this place, unless they be felt from a strong organized movement of patriotic Chinese actuated by feelings of resentment against the original acquisition of that territory by France. Such is unlikely.
At Canton, however, the French have vested interests, concerning which, it is conceivable, they may be anxious. For the last three years France has liberally encouraged national enterprise in this important city, and M. Doumer, the former Progressive Governor of Indo-China, publicly admitted that much money from that Colony was annually devoted to the promotion of French interests-political and commercial-in South China. Numerous French enterprises at Canton have been munificently subsidized. For the small steam-ship service between Canton and Hong Kong, I think 90,000 dollars annually is paid by the French Government, which service is in no way, however, to be compared to that provided by the Hong Kong and Macao Steam-ship Company (Limited), which flourishes on its merits. The French Consul-General there has been very conspicuous by his activity. The arbitrary official methods employed almost secured for France the cession of all mining and railway rights in Kwangtung and Kwansi. In this Li Hung-chang was quiescent, but neglected to sign the Agreement; and his death put an end to the hopes which the French Representative had built upon that precious document. Only recently the Secretary-General of the Government of Indo-China journeyed in a cruiser to Canton in order to present the Acting Viceroy and another official with the Order of the Légion d'Honneur, and, incidentally, to discuss a
[2021 y-1]
There is not the slightest chance of any attack on the French in Kwang-chauwan.
All they got out of the Viceroy was 800 dollars towards a French school for Chinese students.
B 2
2
3
270
Remarks.
Extract.
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Newspaper Extract.
FRENCH AMBITION IN SOUTH CHINA.---- Mr. A. Cunningham writes as follows in the "Kobe Herald
Whilst public attention is centered on Manchuria and the diplomatic contest at Peking, the matter which is actually of far greater importance to Great Britain, United States, and Japan is being over- looked. That is the aggression of France in South China, and the general situation in the Southern provinces. The coinci- dence of Russian demands in the North and French demands in the South, both sudden in their official application, sug- gests concerted action. France, if she had actually been much distressed or threatened by the rebellion in Kwangsi, might well have appealed to China for its suppression months ago. In fact, from an Imperial aspect the Chinese Govern- ment should be better able to cope with the rebellion and crush it now than it could have done hitherto, China, it is reported, is dispatching her ablest General, Tung Fu Siang, with his well- drilled and well-equipped troops, to take the matter in hand. There is not, and never has been, any fear of Tonquin being invaded by the numerous bands of brigands now disturbing the two Kwangs. The desolate, mountainous boundary of Tonquin and Kwangsi is effectively forti- fied by France and China, and is stronly garrisoned by French troops, so tliat France need not expect attacks, as in the past, from Chinese bandits. Even those raids were the consequence of her seizure of the territory, in clearing the country of Black Flags, and were not predatory movements. There is nothing on the wild and precipitous highlands of the Tonquin border likely to invite attacks from either Chinese revolutionist brigand. The French are acquiring cer- tain railway interests in Yunnan, but the inhabitants of this province are not feared by the French as being anti-foreign, and if they were France has very little there at present to lose. The only remaining point at which French territorial interests are likely to suffer from the troubles in South China, is the Colony (to call it by its real name) of Kwangchauwan. Here, given opportunity, the expenditure of much money, and a wise policy of self- government, French interests may one day become important; at present com- mercially they do not amount to a row of
or
Remarks.
Not Tung Fuh Siang, but the active and able Viceroy of Szechuen, Ts'ên Ch'un- hsitan.
Extract.
pins. Where, then, may well be asked, do French fears arising from the unsettled state of South China come in ?
France has nothing actually to fear territorially, and the only possible assump- tion is that the unsettled condition of the two Kwangs has caused the French Minister to feel uneasy concerning French commercial interests in Kwangtung-first, at Kwangchauwan; secondly, at Canton. At Kwangchauwan French vested com- mercial interests at present are naturally small, and the French troops there, in conjunction with the fleet, are amply sufficient to deal with any rebel force which might possibly attack the settle- ment. There is but little loot in that Colony to attract rebels, therefore no fears need be entertained concerning the ex- istence of this place, unless they be felt from a strong organized movement of patriotic Chinese actuated by feelings of resentment against the original acquire- ment of that territory by France. Such is unlikely.
At Canton, however, the French have vested interests, concerning which, it is conceivable, they may be anxious. For the last three years France has liberally encouraged national enterprise in this important city, and M. Doumer, the former Progressive Governor of Indo- China, publicly admitted that much money from that Colony was annually devoted to the promotion of French interests-political and commercial-in South China. Numerous French enter- prises at Canton have been munificently subsidized. For the small steam-ship service between Canton and Hong Kong, I think 90,000 dollars annually is paid by the French Government, which service is in no way, however, to be compared to that provided by the Hong Kong and Macao Steam-ship Company (Limited), which flourishes on its merits. The French Consul-General there has been very conspicuous by his activity. The arbitrary official methods employed almost secured for France the cession of all mining and railway rights in Kwangtung and Kwansi. In this Li Hung-chang was quiescent, but neglected to sign the Agreement; and his death put an end to the hopes which the French Representa- tive had built upon that precious docu- ment. Only recently the Secretary- General of the Government of Indo-China journeyed in a cruiser to Canton in order to present the Acting Viceroy and another official with the Order of the Légion d'Honneur, and, incidentally, to discuss a
[2021 y-1]
There is not the slightest chance of any attack on the French in Kwang- chauwan.
All they got out of the Viceroy was 800 dollars towards a French school for Chinese students.
B 2
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