[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
Meanwhile the number of Indians, which had fallen to about 160, or forty below the normal standard, has been increased by thirteen, who have been recruited from India by the police cadet sent from Shanghae for the purpose, and another draft of fifty is expected to arrive in a few weeks. These new men are all under the old terms of service.
I have, &c. (Signed)
PELHAM WARREN.
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Extract from the Police Daily Report of March 11, 1907.
Attack by Armed Robbers.
AT 2 A.M, on the 11th instant Ling Ong Gaw, dog-cart coolie, reported at the number of armed natives had attacked Police- West Hongkew station that a
Police- constable 286 (native) and thrown him to the ground on the Elgin Road. constable Butler, who was on charge-room duty, went into the compound and met Police-constable (72) Morrow coming into the station, and told him to go round to the Elgin Road at once. A few minutes after he heard a police whistle, followed by the report of fire-arms. Inspector Chilver and the foreign and Indian sergeants and constables were called and sent out armed. Police-constable Austin, who was first out, found Police-constable (72) Morrow lying on the ground in the Cunningham Road, apparently shot dead. The ambulance was sent for, and the police-constable removed to hospital, where he was examined by Dr. Marshall, who pronounced life to be extinct. The roads and vacant ground in that part were searched, but no traces could be found of the robbers. Twelve empty cartridge cases were found at the junction of Elgin and Cunningham Roads. Police-constable 286 reports that at 2 A.M. he noticed a number of men coming along the Cunningham Road from the direction of the railway, and before he could give an alarm he was seized from behind and thrown on the ground, and threatened that if he made a noise he would be shot. There was a hole dug at the side of the road, presumably for replacing a gas lamp, into which they put the constable, and placed a shutter over him. One of the robbers stood over the top. The gang then broke into shop No. 162-163, Elgin Road, and robbed it of a large quantity of money and clothing, value at present unknown, and ran away into the country.
On being informed at 2 A.M. of what had taken place, I proceeded at once to the West Hongkew Station, and after examining the shop-people and searching the neighbourhood for traces, I dispatched three different parties in pursuit of the gang. Traces have been found in certain spots, but owing to the heavy rain which fell at 4 A.M. there will be considerable difficulty in following these up. This matter being one of great urgency and importance, I have acted without consulting the native authorities, and have instructed the various parties to arrest on suspicion, and in the event of resistance to use their arms without hesitation. In this connection I have to point out the very serious danger, with small means of coping with it, to which the police in certain of the outlying districts are exposed at night. Armed only with a truncheon, and a whistle to summon assistance, they have to deal with organized gangs of desperate ruffians in possession of fire-arms. I propose, with the approval of the Watch Committee, to arm with carbines or revolvers and ball ammunition all the foreign and a select number of Indian police on second night duty (11 P.M. to 6 A.M.) in the Bubbling Well, West Hongkew, Hongkew, Wayside, and Yangtsepoo districts.
An inquest was held at the mortuary, Fearon Road, at 11 P.M. to-day by His Majesty's Coroner, and adjourned till 10 A.M. to-morrow.
(Signed) K. J. McEUEN,
Acting Captain Superintendent,
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
74
[April 20.]
SECTION 4.
(12747]
No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received April 20.)
(No. 116.) Sir,
Peking, March 5, 1907.
I HAVE the honour to transmit to you copies of two despatches from His Majesty's Acting Consul at Newchwang and His Majesty's Consul-General at Mukden which have an instructive interest as showing the methods by which the Japanese are turning to account the advantages they acquired in Manchuria under the plea of military necessity during the late war.
Mr. Tebbitt reports that the large tract of land acquired in the vicinity of the port by the Military Administration has been transferred to the South Manchurian Railway Company, and Mr. Fulford's despatch gives the Regulations under which these Railway Settlements in Manchuria are to be administered. As Mr. Fulford points out, this procedure will relieve the Japanese Government of the necessity of coming to any arrangement with China on the point.
This appropriation of land at compulsory rates for military purposes is one of the features in the conduct of the late war which does least credit to Japan, and its retention afterwards for civil purposes seems hardly defensible. But it has enabled her to settle on easy terms large numbers of her surplus population in both Corea and Manchuria, and these oversea Settlements, being in close touch with the motherland, are a powerful factor in consolidating Japanese influence on the continent. In China and Corea, Japan has everywhere shown a tendency to have separate Settlements for her people, and has seldom evinced any desire to co-operate with other nationalities in the matter of residence. Each of these Settlements on the railways in Corea soon becomes a small Japanese Colony, and the same policy is apparently being pursued in Manchuria. People living in such conditions and in such close proximity to their home markets have a great advantage over Western competitors, and must eventually monopolize a large share in the trade of Manchuria. The foreign residents in Manchuria number a few hundred, whereas there are now 34,452 Japanese settled in the country.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Acting Consul Tebbitt to Sir J. Jordan.
J. N. JORDAN.
(No. 8.) Sir,
Newchwang, February 19, 1907. I HAVE the honour to inform you that at a recent interview with Mr. Segawa, the Japanese Consul, I endeavoured to elicit some information as to the exact status of the so-called Japanese Concession.
Mr. Segawa, in reply, informed me that the place was not a Concession. The land purchased in that neighbourhood by the Military Administration (it is said at a compulsory price of 130 dollars, war notes, per mou) was, on the cessation of the military occupation of Newchwang, transferred to the South Manchurian Railway Company. It is therefore merely an extension of the Company's existing property. As such the land will be under the jurisdiction of the Company as soon as the Military Administration hands over the railway (presumably about the 1st April). In the meantime the land is controlled from Dalny, the bead-quarters of the Military Administration, and is not under the jurisdiction of the Japanese Consul. Mr. Segawa seemed to resent this arrangement, especially as he has no control over the Japanese settlers, to whom this newly acquired land has been leased on easy terms. There are about 700 Japanese there, and from 2,000 to 3,000 in Yingkow. Houses are being built, and a Municipal Council of ten members has been created, subject to the veto of the Governor-General of Kwantung.
[2450 u-1]
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