CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903 — Page 284

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

C. O.

33471

# SOUTH-WEST CHINA

## CONFIDENTIAL

### No. 1

### SECTION 1

Mr. Townley to the Marquess of Lansdowne.~(Received July 20.)

(No. 219. Confidential.) My Lord,

I HAVE the honour to inform your Lordship, with reference to my telegrams
Peking, June 3, 1903. upon the subject of the recent rising in Yunnan Province, that telegraphic communication has been restored with Mengtse and that the French Legation has received reliable information which leads them to feel satisfied that the movement is at an end. As far as can be ascertained, it would appear that the movement was an independent one, and not connected in any way with the Kwangsi rebels. The French Minister was strongly urged from the outset by the Consular officers in Yunnan to solicit French military intervention from Indo-China, but he considered that until he was in possession of fuller information it would be sufficient to make strong representations to the Chinese Government, warning them that they would be held responsible for the lives of French citizens in the province, and adding that unless energetic action was at once taken, France might find herself obliged to restore order by force of arms.

M. Dubail tells me that the Wai-wu Pu lost no time in sending strong orders to the Viceroy to suppress the movement, and that he has no cause to complain of any want of prompt energy on their part. The rebellion fortunately proved to be a small local affair, with which the slender forces at the command of the Viceroy were able to deal satisfactorily.

I have, &c.

(Signed) WALTER TOWNLEY.

[2063 u-1]

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