4
3. The circumstances stated in Sir Ernest Satow's despatch of the 7th February, 1906, to Prince Ch'ing lay the responsibility for the riots on the Taotai and the Chinese anthorities.
The Judge and the Taotai shall jointly inquire into those circumstances and report-
(a.) On the conduct of the Taotai in relation to the riot from the 10th December until the arrival of the Viceroy Chou Fu at Shanghae on the 21st December,
(b.) On the conduct of any other Chinese officials who neglected to take precautions.
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[6296]
No. 1.
[February 25, 0.
487
SECTION 10928
IR.
REGE 26 MAR 07
0
Mr. F. W. Fox to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received February 25.)
Reform Club, Pall Mall, London, Dear Sir Edward Grey,
February 23, 1907. WITH reference to the interview which I had the privilege of having with Mr. Langley at the Foreign Office last Thursday, respecting the proposal of the China Missions Emergency Committee to send a deputation to China to inquire into and report on the bearing of the new conditions which are alleged to have recently arisen in China upon the question of missionary work in all its forms, evangelistic, educational, literary, medical, &c., I have the honour to say that this deputation, which leaves England in March next, will include Rev. Lord William and Lady Florence Gascoyne-Cecil, Professor Alexander Macalister, M.D., of Cambridge University, and myself; also it is probable that Sir Alexander Simpson, M.D., of Edinburgh, who is now in India, will join the deputation at Shanghae,
I shall esteem it a great favour if you can kindly give me introductions to the Representatives of His Majesty's Government at Peking and Shanghae.
I also take the opportunity of inclosing herewith a copy of the Instructions which the Committee will place in the hands of the members of the deputation for their guidance when in China, and would venture more particularly to direct your attention to clauses 7, 8, and 9 of these Instructions, which are as follows:-
"7. To inquire and consider whether any amendment or alteration in the Treaties between Great Britain and China would facilitate mission work in China by removing some of the wrong impressions produced in the minds of the Chinese people.
"8. To inquire in what ways the Chinese Government may be made to understand and realize the desire of this country that China should be held exclusively for the Chinese themselves; and by what means the British Government could give assurance that this is the desire of the English people.
"9. To make inquiries amongst Chinese officials and leaders of Chinese opinion whether there is anything in the conduct of missionaries or their methods which disposes the Chinese officials and people to receive them and their teaching in an unfriendly spirit.”
In connection with these clauses, Mr. Langley kindly pointed out that Article XIII of the Treaty between Great Britain and China, signed at Shanghae on the 5th September, 1902, and which is as follows:-
"The missionary question in China being, in the opinion of the Chinese Govern- ment, one requiring careful consideration, so that, if possible, troubles such as have occurred in the past may be averted in the future, Great Britain agrees to join in a Commission to investigate this question, and, if possible, to devise means for securing permanent peace between converts and non-converts, should such a Commission be formed by China and the Treaty Powers interested.”
Provides a suitable opening for the Chinese Government to approach His Majesty's Government on questions relating to missionaries and mission work.
As the members of the deputation to China are extremely anxious to find every possible means for lessening or removing the causes of unfriendliness between the Chinese officials and Protestant missionaries, may we inquire if you would permit us to assure the Chinese officials whom we may meet that His Majesty's Government will be glad to consider any amendments in the wording of the clauses of the existing Treaties which relate to missionaries, so as to facilitate missionary work, and to remove any wrong impressions at present produced in the minds of the Chinese people?
May we also assure the Chinese officials that His Majesty's Government has every
[2376 bb-1]
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.