This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA,
CONFIDENTIAL.
[40049]
No. 1.
405
[November 29.]
SECTION
C. 6. 46853
REC
Memorandum communicated to the Chinese Minister, November 29, 1906.
20 DEC 06
THE Chinese Minister, when he called at the Foreign Office on the 21st instant, referred to the indemnity demanded on account of the disturbances which took place at Shanghae in December 1905. He represented that the guilty persons had been punished, and that the indemnity which would fall upon innocent persons would have a bad effect.
The information received by His Majesty's Government at the time of the disturbances was to the effect that the riots were not the work of the inhabitants of the foreign Settlement, but of an influx of persons of bad character from Portung and the outskirts of Hongkew, whom the municipal police have no authority to exclude from the Settlement. That duty belongs to the Chinese authorities, who exercise jurisdiction outside. There was, moreover, evidence that the occurrence was not unexpected by the Taotai, who intimated to the Consular Body before the riots broke out that there would be trouble if they did not give way to his demands.
It is, therefore, quite clear that the British subjects and others who suffered losses during the riots were entitled to compensation from the Chinese authorities, and that His Majesty's Government were fully justified in the demands which they put forward, viz.:
1. That the ringleaders in the disturbances should be arrested, tried, and punished;
2. That the local officials, including the Taotai, who neglected to take proper precautions, should be punished; and
3. That a satisfactory settlement should be come to under which the Viceroy shall arrange that the sufferers in person and property are duly compensated by the Chinese authorities.
No redress whatever has yet been obtained.
His Majesty's Government understand that some of the rioters were arrested, but none of the leaders, who have been allowed to escape, and the Taotai, against whom such grave charges have been made, has been appointed to an important position at Peking.
His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking in June last received from the Wai-wu Pu an undertaking that the Viceroy would be instructed by telegraph that compensation should be paid to bona fide sufferers. On the strength of this assurance, Mr. Carnegie agreed to instruct His Majesty's Consul-General at Shanghae to meet deputies appointed by the Viceroy and discuss with them the question of compensation and the punishment of officials and ringleaders.
Four months after this Arrangement had been arrived at, His Majesty's Minister at Peking reported that, although the matter had been continually pressed both at Peking and Nanking, there had been practically no progress, and that the Viceroy had not even sent his deputies to Shanghae.
No information has since been received to show that the Viceroy has taken steps to give effect to the Arrangement made at Peking by the foreign Board and His Majesty's Representative.
The Chinese Minister has called attention to the fact that the actual damage done was not very great. No exact estimate of the losses incurred has so far been received, as it has been left to Sir P. Warren and the Viceroy's deputies to examine the claims on the spot.
It can, however, hardly be contended that the question of liability is affected by the amount of damage done, and it must also be borne in mind that it was not due to the exertions of the Chinese authorities, but to the presence at Shanghae of British war-ships that much greater destruction of property and loss of life were averted.
[2226 -1]
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA,
CONFIDENTIAL.
[40049]
No. 1.
405
[November 29.]
SECTION
C. 6. 46853
REC
Memorandum communicated to the Chinese Minister, November 29, 1906.
20 DEC 06
THE Chinese Minister, when he called at the Foreign Office on the 21st instant, referred to the indemnity demanded on account of the disturbances which took place at Shanghae in December 1905. He represented that the guilty persons had been punished, and that the indemnity which would fall upon innocent persons would have a bad effect.
1906,
The information received by His Majesty's Government at the time of the Sir E. Satow. disturbances was to the effect that the riots were not the work of the inhabitants of the No. 23, foreign Settlement, but of an influx of persons of bad character from Portung and January 11. the outskirts of Hongkew, whom the municipal police have no authority to exclude from the Settlement. That duty belongs to the Chinese authoritics, who exercise jurisdiction outside. There was, moreover, evidence that the occurrence was not unexpected by the Taotai, who intimated to the Consular Body before the riots broke out that there would be trouble if they did not give way to his demands.
It is, therefore, quite clear that the British subjects and others who suffered losses during the riots were entitled to compensation from the Chinese authorities, and that His Majesty's Government were fully justified in the demands which they put forward, viz. :
1. That the ringleaders in the disturbances should be arrested, tried, and SirE.Satow. punished;
February 5,
No. 58,
2. That the local officials, including the Taotai, who neglected to take proper 1906. precautions, should be punished; and
3. That a satisfactory settlement should be come to under which the Viceroy shall arrange that the sufferers in person and property are duly compensated by the Chinese authorities.
No redress whatever has yet been obtained.
His Majesty's Government understand that some of the rioters were arrested, but none of the leaders, who have been allowed to escape, and the Taotai, against whom such grave charges have been made, has been appointed to an important position at Peking.
His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking in June last received from the Mr. Wai-wu Pu an undertaking that the Viceroy would be instructed by telegraph that Camegic, No. 319, compensation should be paid to bond fide sufferers. On the strength of this assurance,
July 24, and in deference to the wishes of the Board that the matter should be settled locally, 1906. Mr. Carnegie agreed to instruct. His Majesty's Consul-General at Shanghae to meet deputies appointed by the Viceroy and discuss with them the question of compensation and the punishment of officials and ringleaders.
Four months after this Arrangement had been arrived at, His Majesty's Minister Sir J. at Peking reported that, although the matter had been continually pressed both at Jordan, Peking and Nanking, there had been practically no progress, and that the Viceroy had No. 176, at that time not even sent his deputies to Shanghae.
Telegraphic, October 1,
No information has since been received to show that the Viceroy has taken steps 1900. to give effect to the Arrangement made at Peking by the foreign Board and His Majesty's Representative.
The Chinese Minister has called attention to the fact that the actual damage done was not very great. No exact estimate of the losses incurred has so far been received, as it has been left to Sir P. Warren and the Viceroy's deputies to examine the claims on the spot.
It can, however, hardly be contended that the question of liability is affected by the amount of damage done, and it must also be borne in mind that it was not due to the exertions of the Chinese authorities, but to the presence at Shanghae of British war-ships that much greater destruction of property and loss of life were averted.
[2226 -1]
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.