(No. 94.) My Lord,
No. 2.
Mr. Townley to the Marquess of Lansdowne.—(Received April 27.)
Peking, March 12, 1903.
I HAVE the honour to forward to your Lordship herewith a copy of a Report which I have received from Colonel Ducat, Military Attaché to this Legation, on the subject of the Reform movement in Southern China.
I have forwarded a copy of Colonel Ducat's Report to the Governor of Hong Kong, who communicated to me a short time ago a copy of a despatch which he had addressed to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, reporting on the frustration at Hong Kong of a plot organized by the Reform party against the Chinese authorities at Canton, and giving a general account of the movement in the southern provinces.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
WALTER TOWNLEY.
Inclosure in No. 2.
Report by Colonel Ducat on the Reform Party in the South.
I HAVE been trying for some time to get into touch with the Chinese Reform party in these parts and ascertain their aims and plans for the future. But it is very difficult in my position to approach them, as I knew they would be suspicious of my intentions, so I called on Mr. Chater, one of the oldest residents and well acquainted with the Colony, and asked him to assist me. He gave me letters to two Chinese, who knew very well who the Reformers were but were not in any way connected with them, and asked them to do what they could to help me. One of these men gave me the names of some of the leading Reform members, but stipulated that I should not mention him, but would do what I could on my own account to get information from them.
After several interviews and conversations with some of these I have gathered the following information:
There are some fourteen or fifteen newspapers published here with the object of explaining to the people of the South the advantages of Western forms of Government and the objects of the Reform party in China. The proprietor of the "China newspaper" appears to be one of the leaders of the movement, and has been the most communicative. I hear from him that, at present, they do not see their way to deposing the Manchu dynasty, which is their ultimate aim, but they are aiming at making the South independent of the North; the South being all the country south of the Yangtsze. He says, supposing even that it were possible to overthrow the Manchus, they have no man they could instal as Emperor, who would, for certain, be acceptable to China, and he thinks that a Republic under a President would be the only form of Government possible. Consequently their primary object is to obtain independence for the South, and their efforts for the present are confined to Kwang-tüng and Kwang-hsi. Canton is the centre from which they hope to operate, but so far all attempts at a rising in Canton to depose the Manchu officials have failed, because information of the movement has always leaked out, and their idea for the future is to try and take Canton by a coup de main from outside.
The regular troops of Kwang-tüng number about 30,000, those of Kwang-hsi about 10,000. Most of these are local men, but about one-quarter are Hunanese, and the province of Hunan, according to the Reformers, is bitterly opposed to the Manchu dynasty. They accordingly do not believe that there will be much opposition from the soldiers, provided that the object of the rising is made known to them. The bulk of the population of Canton and the two provinces, they assert, are only too willing to throw off the Manchu yoke and would join the movement as soon as it was developed.
So the Reformers' plan is to march 3,000 men (which is the number they say they can count on) suddenly on Canton, and trust to the people and the soldiers joining them (this seems a small number for such an undertaking), but their difficulty is that it is impossible to collect a very large quantity of arms without being discovered; and they think that this number could be rapidly collected and distributed without exciting suspicion. Owing to the recent plot at Canton having miscarried they do not meditate any immediate action; but they tell me that there will be a rising shortly in Hunan, the headquarters of which will probably be at Siang-tan, south of Changsha. From all I can gather it will be a purely local rising and will be easily suppressed, but they are not at all communicative on the subject. The fact seems to be that the Reformers receive a certain amount of subscriptions and feel called on to show that they are doing something. They consequently assist and foment local risings which have no prospect of success, and have as their only result the worrying of officials and keeping the country disturbed.
They tell me that what they want is a man; and that when Li Hung-chang was at Canton they approached him, and asked him if, in the event of a general rising against the North, he would be willing to be nominated as President of the South, but he declined to have anything to do with them.
I send this information for what it is worth, but I believe it is a true statement of the aims of the Reform party here at present.
Hong Kong, February 25, 1903.
(Signed)
C. M. DUCAT,
Lieutenant-Colonel.
(No. 99.) My Lord,
No. 3.
Mr. Townley to the Marquess of Lansdowne.—(Received April 27.)
Peking, March 12, 1903.
I HAVE the honour to transmit to your Lordship herewith copies of correspondence upon the subject of the posts occupied by British troops in North China.
A similar communication has been addressed to all the Legations having troops on the lines of communication between Peking and Tien-tsin, and between the latter place and the Great Wall.
(Translation.) Sir,
Inclosure 1 in No. 3.
Prince Ching to Mr. Townley.
Kuang Hsü, 27th year, 1st moon, 29th day (February 24, 1903).
ON the 19th instant received a despatch from his Excellency the Minister Superintendent of Northern Trade, in which his Excellency, after referring to the Protocol provision respecting the occupation by foreign troops of the lines of communication between the capital and the sea, goes on to state that between Tien-tsin and Shanhaikwan very much land has been occupied by the various foreign garrisons, and that while now the several contingents have been reduced, the amount of land and house property remaining in their occupation is by no means inconsiderable.
His Excellency has frequently suggested their restoration, but mostly without success; and the consequence is that the native authorities are beset with difficulties in transacting their official business, while the inhabitants of the places in question are rendered homeless and deprived of their livelihood.
His Excellency is aware of the high importance attached by all the Great Powers to the cultivation of friendly feeling and good relations between their countries and ours, and it is therefore clear that they should be handing back these places in due course to the advantage of the officials and people concerned. Of the ground thus occupied by various Powers, there is some which should be handed back at once; while there are other places which should be considered as lent to them, and for which they should pay rent—handing them back ultimately when the troops are withdrawn.
His Excellency asks me to bring this question to the attention of the foreign Representatives in Peking, and I therefore have the honour to forward to you copy of the list prepared by his Excellency, and to request that you may communicate it to the General Officer Commanding His Majesty's troops in the Tien-tsin-Shanhaikwan district with a view to his discussing the question satisfactorily with his Excellency Yuan Shih K'ai.
While awaiting the honour of a reply, I avail, &c.
[1918 dd-5]
B 2
90
3
(No. 94.) My Lord,
No. 2.
Mr. Townley to the Marquess of Lansdowne.—(Received April 27.)
Peking, March 12, 1903.
I HAVE the honour to forward to your Lordship herewith a copy of a Report which I have received from Colonel Ducat, Military Attaché to this Legation, on the subject of the Reform movement in Southern China.
I have forwarded a copy of Colonel Ducat's Report to the Governor of Hong Kong, who communicated to me a short time ago a copy of a despatch which he had addressed to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, reporting on the frustration at Hong Kong of a plot organized by the Reform party against the Chinese authorities at Canton, and giving a general account of the movement in the southern provinces.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
Inclosure in No. 2.
WALTER TOWNLEY.
Report by Colonel Ducat on the Reform Party in the South.
I HAVE been trying for some time to get into touch with the Chinese Reform party in these parts and ascertain their aims and plans for the future. But it is very difficult in my position to approach them, as I knew they would be suspicious of my intentions, so I called on Mr. Chater, one of the oldest residents and well acquainted with the Colony, and asked him to assist me. He gave me letters to two Chinese, who knew very well who the Reformers were but were not in any way connected with them, and asked them to do what they could to help me. One of these men gave me the names of some of the leading Reform members, but stipulated that I should not mention him, but would do what I could on my own accourt to get information from them.
Atter several interviews and conversations with some of these I have gathered the following information :---
There are some fourteen or fifteen newspapers published here with the object of explaining to the people of the South the advantages of Western forms of Government and the objects of the Reform party in China. The proprietor of the "China appears to be one of the leaders of the movement, and has been the most communicative. newspaper I hear from him that, at present, they do not see their way to deposing the Manchu dynasty, which is their ultimate aim, but they are aiming at making the South independent of the North; the South being all the country south of the Yangtsze. He says, supposing even that it were possible to overthrow the Manchus, they have no man they could instal as Emperor, who would, for certain, be acceptable to China, and he thinks that a Republic under a President would be the only form of Government possible. Consequently their primary object is to obtain independence for the South, and their efforts for the present are confined to Kwang-tüng and Kwang-bsi. Canton is the centre from which they hope to operate, but so far all attempts at a rising in Canton to depose the Manchu officials have failed, because information of the movement has always leaked out, and their idea for the future is to try and take Canton by a coup de main from outside.
The regular troops of Kwang-tüng number about 30,000, those of Kwang-hsi about 10,000. Most of these are local men, but about one-quarter are Hunanese, and the province of Hunan according to the Reformers, is bitterly opposed to the Manchu dynasty. They accordingly do not believe that there will be much opposition from the soldiers, provided that the object of the rising is made known to them. The bulk of the popula- tion of Canton and the two provinces, they assert, are only too willing to throw off the Manchu yoke and would join the movement as soon as it was developed.
So the Reformers' plan is to march 3,000 men (which is the number they say they can count on) suddenly on Canton, and trust to the people and the soldiers joining them (this seenis a small number for such an undertaking), but their difficulty is that it is impossible to collect a very large quantity of arms without being discovered; and they think that this number could be rapidly collected and distributed without exciting suspicion. Owing to the recent plot at Canton having miscarried they do not meditate any immediate action; but they tell me that there will be a rising shortly in Hunan, the head-quarters of which will probably be at Siang-tan, south of Changsha. From all I can gather it will be a purely local rising and will be easily suppressed, but they are not at all communicative
on the subject. The fact seems to be that the Reformers receive a certain amount of sub" scriptions and feel called on to show that they are doing something. They consequently assist and foment local risings which have no prospect of success, and have as their only result the worrying of officials and keeping the country disturbed.
They tell me that what they want is a man; and that when Li Hung-chang was at Canton they approached him, and asked him if, in the event of a general rising against the North, he would be willing to be nominated as President of the South, but he declined to have anything to do with them.
I send this information for what it is worth, but I believe it is a true statement of the aims of the Reform party here at present.
Hong Kong, February 25, 1903.
(No. 99.) My Lord,
No. 3.
(Signed)
C. M. DUCAT,
Lieutenant-Colonel.
Mr. Townley to the Marquess of Lansdowne.-(Received April 27.)
Peking, March 12, 1903. I HAVE the honour to transmit to your Lordship herewith copies of correspondence upon the subject of the posts occupied by British troops in North China.
A similar communication has been addressed to all the Legations having troops on the lines of communication between Peking and Tien-tsin, and between the latter place and the Great Wall.
(Translation.) Sir,
I have, &c.
(Signed)
Inclosure 1 in No. 3.
Prince Ching to Mr. Townley.
WALTER TOWNLEY.
Kuang Hsü, 27th year, 1st moon, 29th day
(February 24, 1903).
ON the 19th instant received a despatch from his Excellency the Minister Superintendent of Northern Trade, in which his Excellency, after referring to the Protocol provision respecting the occupation by foreign troops of the lines of communica- tion between the capital and the sea, goes on to state that between Tien-tsin and Shanhaikwan very much land has been occupied by the various foreign garrisons, and that while now the several contingents have been reduced, the amount of land and house His Excellency property remaining in their occupation is by no means inconsiderable. has frequently suggested their restoration, but mostly without success; and the consequence is that the native authorities are beset with difficulties in transacting their official business, while the inhabitants of the places in question are rendered homeless and deprived of their livelihood.
His Excellency is aware of the high importance attached by all the Great Powers to the cultivation of friendly feeling and good relations between their countries and ours, and it is therefore clear that they should be handing back these places in due course to the advantage of the officials and people concerned. Of the ground thus occupied by various Powers, there is some which should be handed back at once; while there are other places which should be considered as lent to them, and for which they should pay rent--handing them back ultimately when the troops are withdrawn.
His Excellency asks me to bring this question to the attention of the foreign Repre- sentatives in Peking, and I therefore have the honour to forward to you copy of the list prepared by his Excellency, and to request that you may communicate it to the General Officer Commanding His Majesty's troops in the Tien-tsin-Shanhaikwan district with a view to his discussing the question satisfactorily with bis Excellency Yuan Shih K'ai.
While awaiting the honour of a reply, I avail, &c.
[1918 dd-5]
B 2
90
!
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