CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907 — Page 261

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and stringent instructions for the arrest of all the pirates, and the full payment without delay of all losses sustained by the launch, her crew and passengers.

I avail, &c.

Inclosure 5 in No. 1.

Acting Consul-General Sly to Sir J. Jordan.

(This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government,

AFFAIRS OF CHINA,

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CONFIDENTIAL.

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SECTION 10.

(Private.) (Extract.)

Canton, May 13, 1907. I FEAR that the new Commissioner will be a very great stumbling-block. I get a good deal of inside information and everything points to the fact that he looks at most things from the Chinese point of view, his main object being to curry favour with the native officials. My own dealings with him alone have satisfied me that a sensible co-operation with us under his régime will probably be unattainable. He would not give me an atom of information in the matter of the Viceroy's action in respect to his reception at the Viceregal yamên, concerning which I have already written you. The day before yesterday he asked me what had been done in regard to the piracy question; in a few brief words I put our ideas as to the customs' cruisers, &c., before him. He cavilled right away, thought that in such things it was better policy to encourage the Chinese to act for themselves. He had no belief in the use of a foreigner as a panacea for all "Celestial" ills, and thought that, if a foreigner in the execution of his duty in suppressing piracy, happened to kill another foreigner (ie., a Portuguese Chinese) he might in the eyes of the law merit punishment. He was anxious to know what bearing the Foreign Enlistment Act would have on the subject, and seemed to fear that the position of the Commission was in jeopardy, as he might suddenly find himself in gaol, or something equally bad.

Above instances of Mr. King's attitude are not by any means all; but are, I trust, a sufficient indication of what we have to expect. Judging things as they are at present

I do not personally think that a worse appointment could have been made. The pity of it is the greater in that we have still to struggle the whole time to overcome the evil influence of Ts'en's policy, while there are so many questions of importance here in which a man in King's position who truckles to the Chinese instead of advising them and acting himself in the right way will make all the difference between success and failure.

No. 1.

Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received July 29.)

(No. 149.)

Peking, July 27, 1907. (Telegraphic.) P.

WITH reference to your telegram No. 88 of the 24th July, I have the honour to inform you that I repeated the substance of it to His Majesty's Consul-General at Canton, and expressed the opinion that the effective measure to be employed in the last resort--which would, however, probably involve risk of boycott-should be the seizure of Whampoa Dock or of some other material guarantee.

The Consul-General is of opinion that such a measure, although it would arouse intense local excitement, and might lead to serious riot, would not involve any risk of boycott; but he considers that the desired effect would be produced by a threat of non-refusal of hospitality to revolutionaries, immediate repeal of the Arms Ordinance, and suspension of extradition at Hong Kong, together with a hint from the Admiral that it might be found necessary to take further naval action.

I am inclined to agree with the Consul-General that our object would be effected by the enforcement of the above measures, owing to the extreme nervousness of the China has Central Government and the provinces about anti-dynastic movements. everywhere had our cordial co-operation in dealing with revolutionaries, and during the current year twenty-five criminals have been extradited from Hong Kong.

I would suggest, therefore, that you should instruct me to deliver the following message to the Wai-wu Pu:-

That, as China continues to neglect her obvious duty of policing her own waters, the Admiral has received instructions to proceed to Canton with a naval force sufficient to protect British commerce, and to take such other measures as the situation may require; and that His Majesty's Government-the case having been placed in their hands have decided to withdraw all facilities for dealing with revolutionaries, to repeal the Arms Ordinance, and to suspend extradition at Hong Kong.

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