[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
2
and on arrival at Pian Lung K'on, in the district of Feng Ch'uan, the pirates landed and made good their escape.
Orders were immediately issued to the Taotai of Wuchow and the Prefect of Shao- Ch'ing to unite with all the local civil and military officials in instituting a strict search, and troops were mobilized throughout the Feng Ch'uan and Hsi-Ning districts to effect the arrest of the pirates.
The case of the other British launch was as follows: Pirates in the guise of passengers concealed themselves on board her on the 15th August. When she arrived at a spot near Jung Ch'i, in the Shun-Te district, a pirate vessel approached her across the water, whereupon the robbery was begun; the Chinese captain and engineer were shot at and wounded, and the pirates made their way to the shore in a boat at a place called Ling-Hua-K'ou and escaped.
In this case, too, strict orders were issued to the local civil and military officials concerned to effect the arrest of the pirates with all dospatch.
His Excellency is of opinion that the recent cases of piracy on steamers plying singly on the West River are largely due to the practice of embarking passengers en route, and to the laxity with which inspections are conducted. He has now appointed an official to discuss with the Consul and the Commissioner of Customs satisfactory measures of precaution and for the thorough searching of all passengers. Definite places and times should be fixed for the embarcation of passengers, and inspection be made by the guards belonging to each section of the river, who would be on the spot in advance in their gun-boats, if a stop is to be put to the prevalence of piracy and the safety of travellers is to be insured.
With regard to the piracy case at Wuchow, we have also received a telegraphic report from the Governor of Kueichow which corresponds in all particulars with the information quoted above.
We avail, &c.
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[35564]
No. 1.
182
[October 22.]
SECTION 5.
42969
IMEST IP: 22 NOV O
Mr. Carnegie to Sir Edward Grey.~(Received October 22.) (No. 373.)
Peking, September 6, 1906. Sir,
WITH reference to my despatch No. 358, Confidential, on the 23rd ultimo, on the subject of the Soochow-Hangchow-Ningpo Railway, I have the honour to inclose some notes of a private conversation which Mr. C. W. Campbell had with his Excellency Tong Shoa-yi on the 25th ultimo, which throw an interesting side-light on the issue of the objectionable Memorial of the Board of Commerce.
Referring to the last paragraph of my despatch No. 368 of yesterday, I am glad to state that Prince Ch'ing has at last definitely arranged to see no at his palace in Peking on Saturday next, the 8th instant.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
LANCELOT D. CARNEGIE.
Inclosure in No. 1.
Portion of a Private Conversation between his Excellency Tong Shoo-yi and Mr. C. II. Campbell at the former's Residence on Saturday, August 25, 1906.
I TOLD Mr. Tong that, for private reasons, which I mentioned shortly, I was anxious to know when Prince Ching was likely to be able to see Mr. Carnegie about
Soochow-Hangchow-Ningpo and Canton-Whampoa Railway questions.
the
All Mr. Tong knew was what he heard the Prince tell Lien-fang in reply to Mr. Carnegie--that he would arrange an interview; but, as the Court would not come
in from the Summer Palace before the first week of September, it looked as if his Highness would not see Mr. Carnegie before that.
This vagueness, at which 1 was not greatly surprised, led me to ask him what was going to be done in consequence of Mr. Carnegie's last note (Soochow Railway). As a reasonable man, I said, he must admit that something had to be done.
Mr. Tony.You have been long enough in China to know what an Imperial Decree is to a Chinese official. It is not a thing which he can attempt to criticize publicly; if he does, he goes. This Memorial of the Board of Commerce was submitted to the Throne, and sanctioned by the Emperor, without the knowledge of the Wai-wu Pu.
Mr. Campbell.-Yes. I can understand your difficulty-your personal difficulty- but what I do not understand is how international relations are to be carried on if Decrees such as the two complained of in connection with the Soochow Railway (I referred to that of September last year, and to the Rescript attached to the Memorial above mentioned) can be issued without the knowledge of the Department responsible for foreign affairs. I know the informal way in which the business of State is often transacted in China, and it does not altogether astonish me that Memorials affecting international interests are considered and approved in this fashion, but it may astonish Sir E. Grey and His Majesty's Government.
Mr. Tong (with a shrug of mute asseut).---I spoke to the Prince about this in a way he has seldom been spoken to by any subordinate. I also spoke to Prince Tsai-chen (President of the Board of Commerce), and expostulated with him. He told me that he had signed the Memorial without knowing its bearing on the British and Chinese Corporation's contract. You see, our difficulty is that both father (Prince Ching) and son (Prince Tsai-chien) are involved in this matter.
Mr. Campbell. -You told Mr. Carnegie, when you delivered the message from Prince Ch'ing last Monday, that a reply to his note would be sent. Up to the present
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