CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907 — Page 63

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

CHINA TRADE.

2

CONFIDENTIAL.

[26892]

GO

32446

[August 12.]

REC

1R 10 SEP 07

SECTION 5.

No. 1.

(No. 302.) Sir,

Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received August 12.)

Peking, June 25, 1907. WITH reference to my telegram No. 104 of the 8th instant, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a note which I have received from the Wai-wu-Pu relative to the steps taken by the local authorities to quell the disturbances at K'ai-Hsien in Szechuan. I also inclose copy of a report from the Acting British Consul at Chungking to the Acting British Consul-General at Chiêngtu, in which he attributes the disturbances primarily to discontent occasioned by the anti-opium movement.

I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.

Inclosure 1 in No. 1.

Wai-wu Pu to Sir J. Jordan.

Kuang Hsü, 33rd year, 5th moon, 7th day (June 17, 1907).

(Translation.) Sir,

WE have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's letter of the 10th instant, informing us that His Majesty's Consul at Chungking had reported by telegraph the destruction by rioters of the China Inland Mission schools and premises at K'ai-Hsien in the K'neichou Prefecture of Szechuan, and requesting that information might be called for from the Provincial Authorities as to the cause and circumstances of the outbreak,

The Board thereupon telegraphed to the Viceroy in charge of that province instructing him to make inquiries and to destroy the rioters, and also to do his utmost to afford protection to the missions and missionaries. Ou the 13th instant be telegraphed that the Tung-Chiên Taotai had reported the destruction by the rioters of the mission schools and premises at K'ai-Hsien, and that he had then sent an officer of the left wing of the provincial army with troops to K'ai-Hsien to restore order. Hou, the Magistrate of K'ai-Hsien, reported later by telegraph that on the 3rd June more than 200 men had suddenly destroyed the small chapels at Yueh-hsi in K‘ai-Hsien, together with the fittings of the empty Chinese houses hired by the two missions, and of the houses occupied by the converts, but that fortunately no one had been hurt. the 6th, the Magistrate went in person at the head of the police to make investigations and arrests.

On

The Viceroy then sent troops to K'ai-Hsien, and at the same time wrote requesting General Ma to send troops from Chungking to Kai-Hsien by land with all speed; and they are now consulting as to making an attack on the rioters.

On the 14th June an Imperial Decree was issued in the following terms: "Chao Erh-fêng has reported that a number of rioters have destroyed the mission schools and premises at K'ai-Hsien, and that he has sent troops to attack the rioters. It is commanded that strict orders be sent to the military to arrest and attack the rioters, and that all officials concerned be directed to do their best to afford protection to the schools and missions in the small towns and markets."

We will again communicate with your Excellency when the Viceroy reports his inquiries into the particulars. Meanwhile, we have the honour to furnish this preliminary reply, and avail, &c.

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