is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.1
SOUTH-WEST CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 1.
[April 9.]
17138
SECTION 1.¦ MAY 041
Sir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.--(Received April 9.)
Peking, February 24, 1904.
232
(No. 65. Confidential.) My Lord,
WITH reference to my despatch No. 44, of the 6th February, I have the honour to transmit to your Lordship herewith copies of two despatches which I have received from His Majesty's Consul at Kiungchow, reporting on recent French action in Hainan.
Mr. Werner draws attention to the holding of "judicial Courts" in the French Consulate, at which the French Vice-Consul and Assistant Magistrate try cases jointly, and to the substitution of French priests for the Portuguese, who at present manage the Roman Catholic Mission in Hainan.
He also reports that soundings have been taken at Pu Chien and Yu Lin Chiang, and that the French are said to wish to transfer the foreign trade of the island to one of these places on account of the increasing shallowness of the Port of Hoihow.
With regard to the substitution of French for Portuguese missionaries in Hainan, already referred to in my Secret telegram No. 258, of August 30th, 1902, and in my despatch of the 25th September, 1902, Senhor Azevedo informed me recently that the bull had been obtained from his Holiness the Pope, and that by it Portuguese missionaries were to have jurisdiction over the whole country between Canton and Macao, known as Heung Shan, French missionaries being withdrawn from there. The French missionary bishop, however, had refused up to the present to carry out this part of the arrangement, and he had advised the Portuguese Bishop of Macao to decline evacuating Hainan until the other bishop obeyed the directions of the Pope.
I have, &c.
(Signed) ERNEST SATOW.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
(No. 2.) Sir,
Consul Werner to Sir E. Satow.
Kiungchow, January 23, 1904.
I HAVE the honour to report that the two launches which ply to the different ports of Hainan under a subsidy from the French Colonial Government, left yesterday for Pu Chien, a place near Hainan Head, the north-east promontory of the island. This is the only good harbour on the coast, with the exception of Yu Lin Kang in the extreme south, and the object of the visit of the launches was to take soundings, in connection with the alleged intention of the French, should opportunity occur, to transfer the foreign trade of the island from Hoihow to P'u Ch'ien, on account of the increasing shallowness of the water at the former port. The gun-boat "Surprise" and the cruiser "Chateaurenault," which have left for Kuang Chou Wan, are said to be going to visit both Pu Chien and Yu Lin Kang on their return, with a similar object.
The relations between the local officials and the French Consul are shown by the holding of "judicial Courts" in the Consulate, at which the French Vice-Consul and Assistant Magistrate try cases jointly, though the former has himself informed me that he has no jurisdiction even over French subjects. Taken in connection with the issue of joint proclamations asserting joint jurisdiction in Chinese cases, previously reported, this seems to indicate that, merely owing to the absence of resistance on the part of the Chinese officials, the French Consul is acquiring over Chinese subjects a jurisdiction denied him in the case of his own nationals.
It is now practically settled that French priests will supplant the Portuguese Mission in Hainan. The hope of the latter rests in the action of the Bishop of Macao, but since a Delegate has been sent from Paris to interview the Pope, it is said to be unlikely that the decision will be in favour of the Portuguese Mission. The latter has been established here for more than 200 years, during which time it has been under...
[1957 -1]
is the Property Batannic Majesty's Government.1
SOUTH-WEST CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 1.
[April 9.]
17138
SECTION 1.¦ MAY 041
Sir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdoume.--(Beceived April 9.)
Peking, February 24, 1904.
232
(No. 65. Confidential.) My Lord,
WITH reference to my despatch No. 44, of the 6th February, I have the honour to transmit to your Lordship herewith copies of two despatches which I have received from His Majesty's Consul at Kiungchow, reporting on recent French action in Flainan.
Mr. Werner draws attention to the holding of "judicial Courts" in the French Consulate, at which the French Vice-Consul and Assistant Magistrate try cases jointly, and to the substitution of French priests for the Portuguese, who at present manage the Roman Catholic Mission in Hainan.
He also reports that soundings have been taken at Pu Chien and Yu Lin Chiang, and that the French are said to wish to transfer the foreign trade of the island to one of these places on account of the increasing shallowness of the Port of Hoihow.
With regard to the substitution of French for Portuguese missionaries in Hainan, already referred to in my Secret telegram No. 258, of August 30th, 1902, and in my despatch of the 25th September, 1992, Senhor Azevedo informed me recently that the bull had been obtained from his Holiness the Pope, and that by it Portuguese necessary missions were to have jurisdiction over the whole country between Canton and Macao, known as Heung Shan, French missionaries being withdrawn from there. The French missionary bishop, however, had refused up to the present to carry out this part of the arrangement, and that he had advised the Portuguese Bishop of Macao to decline evacuating Hainan until the other bishop obeyed the directions of the Pope.
I have, &c.
(Signed) ERNEST SATOW.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
(No. 2.) Sir,
Consul Werner to Sir E. Satow.
Kiungchow, January 23, 1904. I HAVE the honour to report that the two launches which ply to the different ports of Hainan under a subsidy from the French Colonial Government, left yesterday for Pu Chien, a place near Hainan Head, the north-east promontory of the island. This is the only good harbour on the coast, with the exception of Yu Lin Kang in the extreme south, and the object of the visit of the launches was to take soundings, in connection with the alleged intention of the French, should opportunity occur, to transfer the foreign trade of the island. from Hoihow to P'u Ch'ien, on account of the increasing shallowness of the water at the former port. The gun-boat "Surprise" and the cruiser "Chateaurenault," which have left for Kuang Chou Wan, are said to be going to visit both Pu Chien and Yu Lin Kang on their return, with a similar object.
The relations between the local officials and the French Consul are shown by the holding of "judicial Courts" in the Consulate, at which the French Vice-Consul and Assistant Magistrate try cases jointly, though the former has himself informed me that he has no jurisdiction even over French subjects. Taken in connection with the issue of joint proclamations asserting joint jurisdiction in Chinese cases, previously reported, this seems to indicate that, merely owing to the absence of resistance on the part of the Chinese officials, the French Consul is acquiring over Chinese subjects a jurisdic- tion denied him in the case of his own nationals.
It is now practically settled that French priests will supplant the Portuguese Mission in Hainan. The hope of the latter rests in the action of the Bishop of Macao, but since a Delegate has been sent from Paris to interview the Pope, it is said to be unlikely that the decision will be in favour of the Portuguese Mission. The latter has been established here for more than 200 years, during which time it has been under
[1957 -1]
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.