[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
SOUTH-WEST CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 1.
C. O.
[January 4.]
0503 79
SECTION 24 FEB 04'
Acting Consul Fox to the Marquess of Lansdowne.-(Received January 4, 1904.)
Wuchow, November 26, 1903.
(No. 10.) My Lord,
I HAVE the honour to forward for your Lordship's perusal copy of a despatch which I have addressed to His Majesty's Minister in Peking on the present state of affairs in the Province of Kwangsi.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
HARRY H. FOX.
Inclosure in No. 1.
Sir,
Acting Consul Fox to Sir E. Satow.
Wuchow, November 26, 1903.
I HAVE the honour to report briefly on the present state of affairs in the Province of Kwangsi.
The local Chinese officials are either unable, or they are unwilling, to afford any information as to what is passing in the interior. In general terms they refer to certain districts as being "clean," i.e., free of robbers, and others as "unclean."
From native merchants resident in the port, however, the nature of whose business renders them particularly susceptible to any changes in the political barometer, I learn that the province is, in many parts, relapsing into the state of disorder which prevailed during the spring and early summer of this year.
The quieting effects of the Viceroy's three-months' stay in the province are rapidly wearing off, and once more the principal trade routes are threatened by banditti, and movement of cargo, except under heavy military escort, has become uncertain and precarious.
The Cassia River, between this and Kueilin, the provincial capital, remains open to trade; as also, speaking generally, the West River as far as Nanning. A fortnight ago, for the first time during the last four months, cargo boats were attacked by armed robbers at the Man Kat Rapid and plundered of some 5,000 dollars' worth of cotton yarn and silk piece goods. This place is only about 90 miles distant from Wuchow.
But the Liuchow and Chingyuan districts, forming the basis of the northern branch of the West River, the scene of the Viceroy's military operations this summer, are practically closed to trade. Liuchow is the great timber producing district of the province, and the Li-kin Deputy of Wuchow recently informed me that his receipts had seriously fallen off owing to the number of rafts which are "held up" by the brigands.
The rich Yu Lin district, lying to the south of the West River, is overrun by brigands, and transport of goods is impossible, except under military convoy, which a British firm in Wuchow holds at the can only be obtained at exorbitant rates.
At the present moment sixty cases of piece goods destined for Yu Lin which they are unable to forward.
The consequence of this state of affairs is a practical cessation of imports from Hong Kong, at a season which should be the busiest in the year, with a corresponding slackness in the export trade, aggravated in this case by the continued weakness of the Hong Kong demand for staples, such as hides and oils.
The depression is having the usual effect on the slightly capitalized native firms in Wuchow; three have failed during the last month, and several others are expected to close their doors before the end of the year. Two of these firms are indebted to local British houses for freight, and I am experiencing considerable difficulty in...
[1822 d-1]
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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.}
SOUTH-WEST CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 1.
C. O.
[January 4.1
0503 79
SECTION 24 FEB 04'
Acting Consul Fox to the Marquess of Lansdowne.-(Received January 4, 1904.)
Wuchow, November 26, 1903.
(No. 10.) My Lord,
I HAVE the honour to forward for your Lordship's perusal copy of a despatch which I have addressed to His Majesty's Minister in Peking on the present state of affairs in the Province of Kwangsi.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
HABRY H. FOX.
Inclosure in No. 1.
Sir,
Acting Consul Fox to Sir E. Satov.
Wuchow, November 26, 1903.
I HAVE the honour to report briefly on the present state of affairs in the Province of Kwangsi.
The local Chinese officials are either unable, or they are unwilling, to afford any information as to what is passing in the interior. In general terms they refer to certain districts as being "clean," i.e., free of robbers, and others as "unclean."
From native merchants resident in the port, however, the nature of whose business renders them particularly susceptible to any changes in the political barometer, I learn that the province is, in many parts, relapsing into the state of disorder which prevailed during the spring and early summer of this year.
The quieting effects of the Viceroy's three-months' stay in the province are rapidly wearing off, and once more the principal trade routes are threatened by banditti, and movement of cargo, except under heavy military escort, has become uncertain and precarious.
The Cassia River, between this and Kueilin, the provincial capital, remains open to trade; as also, speaking generally, the West River as far as Nanning. A fortnight ago, for the first time during the last four months, cargo boats were attacked by armed robbers at the Man Kat Rapid and plundered of some 5,000 dollars' worth of cotton yarn and silk piece goods." This place is only about 90 miles distant from Wuchow.
But the Liuchow and Chingyuan districts, forming the basis of the northern branch of the West River, the scene of the Viceroy's military operations this summer, are practically closed to trade. Liuchow is the great timber producing district of the province, and the Li-kin Deputy of Wuchow recently informed me that his receipts had seriously fallen off owing to the number of rafts which are "held up" by the brigands.
The rich Yu Lin district, lying to the south of the West River, is overrun by brigands, and transport of goods is impossible, except under military convoy, which A British firm in Wuchow holds at the can only be obtained at exorbitant rates.
present moment sixty cases of piece goods destined for Yu Lin which they are unable to forward.
The consequence of this state of affairs is a practical cessation of imports from. Hong Kong, at a season which should be the busiest in the year, with a corresponding slackness in the export trade, aggravated in this case by the continued weakness of the Hong Kong demand for staples, such as hides and oils.
The depression is having the usual effect on the slightly capitalized native firms in Wuchow; three have failed during the last month, and several others are expected to close their doors before the end of the year. Two of these firms are indebted to local British houses for freight, and I am experiencing considerable difficulty in
[1822 d-1]
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