CO129-331 - Public Offices - 1905 — Page 577

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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.j

CHINA TRADE.

CONFIDENTIAL.

C. O.

570

42323

[November 4.]

REC

18ces 20 NOV 05

SECTION 4.

(No. 306.) My Lord,

No. 1.

Sir E. Satou to the Marquess of Lansdowne.~(Received November 4.)

Peking, September 16, 1905.

I HAVE the honour to transmit to your Lordship, with reference to my despatch No. 298 of the 5th instant, copy of a despatch which I have received from His Majesty's Acting Consul at Foochow with regard to the posting of boycott placards in Yenping-fu, and the action taken by him in consequence thereof.

I have informed Mr. Giles that his action has my approval.

I have, &c. (Signed)

ERNEST SATOW.

(No. 20.) Sir,

Inclosure 1 in No. 1.

Acting Consul Giles to Sir E. Satow.

Fonchow, September 1, 1905. WITH reference to the boycott of American goods, I have the honour to forward herewith copy of a letter, dated the 17th August, which I received from Mr. Champness, a British subject working for the American Methodist Mission. I also forward copy

and trauslation of the Chinese inclosure contained in the letter, being an extract from a report received by Mr. Champness from the native pastor at Yenping-fu, a city about 80 miles to the north-west of Foochow. From this report it would appear that the gentry of that city themselves took in hand the posting of the placards announcing the boycott, thereby to a certain extent lending official countenance to what the Chinese authorities have always declared to be a purely popular movement. I have endeavoured to secure one of these placards through Mr. Champness, but have so far not obtained Whatever the wording of these placards, however, it would appear that they wore engendering a certain amount of anti-foreign feeling. Yemping-fu had the reputation in former years of being a very anti-foreign city, and I understand that it is only recently that it has been possible for foreigners to reside there. Under the circum- stances, although there seemed no immediate danger of a disturbance, I judged in best to bring the matter without delay to the notice of the Acting Viceroy.

one.

The French and American Consuls having received similar complaints from their own missionaries with respect to the state of affairs in the Yeuping Prefecture, and the matter being one that concerned all foreigners in this part of Fukien irrespective of nationality, it was resolved at a meeting of the Consular Body, held on the 18th August, to address a joint communication on the subject to the Viceroy through the American Consul, who is senior Consul at this port. I inclose copy and translation of this despatch as sent in by the American Consul on the 22nd August.

The reply of the Acting Viceroy, of which I also inclose copy and translation, reached me this morning. The despatch is couched in most satisfactory terms; the Viceroy evidently appears to be fully alive to his responsibilities, and to be determined to suppress without loss of time any movement which might lead to an anti-foreign outbreak. In view of the prompt action taken, there seems no reason to apprehend any trouble for the present.

Dear Sir,

I have, &c. (Signed)

Inclosure 2 in No. 1.

Mr. Champness to Consul Playfair.

BERTRAM GILES.

Sharp Peak, August 17, 1905.

I INCLOSE a copy of an extract from a Chinese letter I have recently received from the senior pastor of the Methodist Mission in Yenping City, where I usually reside.

[2247 d-4]