}
}
2
foreign Concessions by rioters from outside, I referred their Excellencies to the Wai-wu Pu archives, and especially to the Shameen and Chinkiang disturbances of 1883 and 1889.
Their Excellencies disclaimed any wish to provoke a reopening of the whole question. They relied on the sense of justice of the British Government to help them to come to a speedy and amicable settlement, and on the point of compensation they felt that their liability was not so clear as in the cases cited by me. For that reason they suggested that if compensation to foreigners was necessary it should be paid by the Municipal Council, 75 per cent. of whose revenue was derived from Chinese subjects by means of a special levy.
oppose
I made it quite plain that the suggestion was impossible, and that His Majesty's Government would continue to hold the Chinese authorities responsible for compensa- tion to bond fide sufferers and for the due punishment of the ringleaders and blame- worthy officials. As for Yuan Taotai, I felt confident that His Majesty's Government would
his employment in any post where he would come into relations with foreigners unless his action in regard to the riots was cleared up to their satisfaction.
A long and fruitless discussion followed, the details of which I need not enter into, and eventually, as the hour was late, it was arranged that the Excellencies should take the opinion of Prince Ching on what I had said before proceeding further.
On the 22nd January Mr. Chu Pao-kuei, an Under-Secretary of the Wai-wu Pu, called on me by direction of Prince Ching to say that his Highness could not improve on the counter-proposals which I had rejected, and at my next interview on the 25th January I told the Wai-wu Pu that if the Prince's message was the last word of the Chinese Government, I should be obliged to see him in person to ascertain that fact for the information of His Majesty's Government. The Grand Secretary Na-t'ung and Tong Ta-jen then said that they would telegraph again to the Viceroy Tuan-fang to see what could be done, and I consented to wait another week for the Viceroy's reply. This was shown to me at the Wai-wu Pu on the 1st February by Na Chung-tang, and I inclose a translation. It amounted to a shelving of the case for another month to allow the Viceroy to obtain from the Shanghae Tautai in person information which he could in the ordinary course gather from the documents in his possession. I expressed my dissatisfaction, and said that not only did the Viceroy appear to mean delay and delay alone, but that he also seemed to have an inadequate notion of what "sifted to the bottom" signified. If the whole case were reopened and a joint investigation agreed upon, it would mean an exhaustive probing in open Court into the doings, not only of the municipal police, but also of every Chinose official and person connected with the riots, and this would entail the personal attendance of Yuan Taotai, amongst others, to give evidence. From the outset it was essential that the Viceroy should know that we did not shirk an inquiry, providing that it was searching and impartial. Na Chung-tang admitted that the Viceroy's reply looked like delay, and promised to telegraph instructions that the Taotai should not wait for the opening of the seals, which takes place about the 20th of the 1st Chinese moon, but should proceed to Nanking as soon after the 5th as possible. He argued that it was not necessary at this stage to mention what I had said about the scope of the suggested inquiry, as he had a feeling that means would be found to arrange the case amicably without going so far. I insisted, however, that there must not be the smallest misapprehension that, if His Majesty's Government agreed to an inquiry, it would have to be one which would deal exliaustively with the causes of the riots, as well as with the questions of compensation and punishments, and especially with the conduct and attitude of the Chinese officials concerned, including Taotai Yuan.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
J. N. JORDAN.
3
Shanghae is a centre of the highest importance in respect to international trade, and the Chinese Government viewed as most unfortunate the occurrence of last year, when, owing to a case in the Mixed Court, public feeling was aroused and disturbances were provoked. Moreover, it is particularly regrettable that several Chinese lost their lives, while the persons and property of British subjects were also injured.
Repeated communications were received from Sir Ernest Satów and later from Mr. Carnegie on this subject, and the reason why this Board returned no replies was because we felt convinced-in view of the complex character of the port's commerce, which attracts to it the attention of both foreign and Chinese observers-that if the mode of settling this case lacked fairness in the least degree the result might be the occurrence of further disturbances, with the inevitable consequence that precautions for maintaining the peace would be more difficult to arrange than ever.
All
Furthermore, the policing of the Settlement has always devolved on the Municipal Council, and Chinese officials have no means of assisting therein. responsibility for the injuries inflicted on Chinese or foreign merchants should therefore be borne by the Municipal Council We now propose the following exceptionally conciliatory mode of dealing with this question: Foreigners should be compensated by the Municipal Council, and Chinese should receive from the Chinese officials compassionate allowances.
*
As regards Yuan Taotai, he was not in Shanghae at the time the riot began; but when he heard of it he at once hurried back to restore order, and, at personal danger to himself, went on foot and persuaded the people to resume their business avocations. There is no doubt that he had exerted himself to afford protection, as is well known by both Chinese and foreign residents. If the causes of the outbreak be sought, Mr. Twyman must be held responsible, and the Chinese officials cannot be involved. Neither side need mention this phase of the question, in order that an amicable settlement may be arranged.
Great Britain has always been fair in her dealings, and your Excellency is equitable in handling affairs. We now propose that upon the above-stated lines the Taotai, under instructions of the Viceroy which this Board will ask his Excellency to issue, should discuss a satisfactory settlement of the case with the Judge of His Majesty's Supreme Court; and we trust that your Excellency will telegraph to the Judge in this seusc.
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Viceroy at Nanking to Wai-wu Pu.
(Translation.) (Telegraphic.)
January 31, 1907. BOTH Chinese and foreigners suffered losses in this affair, but the loss of several innocent Chinese lives was the most important point. Now that the British Minister agrees to have this inquired into also, it will be possible to evolve, after due consulta- tion, a fair and equitable means of settlement. "All the records of the case are in the Shanghae Taotai's hands, so that unless he be instructed to come to Nanking for the purpose of personal consultation, it would not be possible to thoroughly sift the matter and definitely propose a mode of settlement. The closing of the seals being imminent, it will be impossible to do anything before New Year; but I propose to instruct the Taotai to come up here directly after the "opening of the seals" for the purpose of holding personal consultation with him. When we have arrived at a modus operandi I will inform you.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Memorandum communicated to Sir J. Jordan by Wai-wu Pu, January 18, 1907.
(Translation.)
WITH reference to the Shanghae Mixed Court riots, we have had the honour to receive from your Excellency a Memorandum, and now proceed to express as follows the views of this Board for the settlement of this case :--
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