2
In addition to these two difficulties, while the railway loan negotiations are still going on, the British have added to China's embarrassments by not settling the Peking Syndicate's Shansi affairs and by not withdrawing their gun-boats from the West River so that China is hemmed in by England on every side.
Whatever the object of the English may be, they give ample evidence of a design to do as they like with us. If you are always trying to stand well with foreigners, thinking that a little yielding will not do much harm, whereas great advantages can thereby be gained, you may find after all that your object will not be achieved, and you will have the fate of the high officials of Egypt and of Burma before you as warnings,
It is true that China is weak, and that foreign aggression cannot be kept off by mere words; but you can have national enthusiasm at your back. If, however, you not only treat as of no account, but even seek in the interest of foreigners to suppress, the resistance offered by the people of several provinces, you are depriving this great country of the one thing that might inspire foreigners with dread, namely, the spirit of the nation. As the famous General who was put to death by his own people said, "You have yourselves destroyed your Great Wall"; and you are estopped from pleading the weakness of your country in your excuse. "A man must insult himself before others will"; and if foreign contagion is to come in, it must be invited.
(Signed) W. P. KER.
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[10151]
No. 1.
245
Britania Ustesty Gov
[March 24.]
SECTION 1.
Admiralty to Foreign Office.--(Received March 24.)
(Confidential.)
Admiralty, March 23, 1908. Sir,
WITH reference to your letter dated the 28th November, 1907, and to Admiralty letter dated the 19th December, 1907, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit herewith, for the information of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, copy of a letter, dated the 6th ultimo, which has been received from the Commander-in-Chief on the China Station respecting the inadvisability of drastic measures for the suppression of piracy in Canton waters.
(Confidential.) Sir,
I am, &c.
(Signed) W. GRAHAM GREENE.
Inclosure in No. 1.
Admiral Sir A. Moore to Admiralty.
"King Alfred," at Molucca, February 6, 1908, WITH reference to Admiralty letter of the 19th December, 1907, be pleased to inform their Lordships that, as already reported in my submission of the 27th January, 1908, the necessity for taking drastic measures in connection with the suppression of piracy has now passed. The Chinese authorities are taking energetic measures, both afloat and ashore, for the suppression of piracy, and our increased patrol has been withdrawn.
2. With reference to paragraph 5 of their Lordships' letter under reply, I am still of the opinion expressed in my telegram of the 21st November, 1907. Further, I would point out that it is laid down in clause 9 (b), Article 396, China Station Orders, that "landing in pursuit of pirates within Chinese jurisdiction is strictly forbidden," and without landing in pursuit it is difficult to see how the officers commanding our gun-boats could obtain sufficient evidence against any particular village to justify them in taking measures against it.
That a piracy has been committed in the neighbourhood of a village would be no proof of the complicity of that village; rather the reverse.
8. It is unnecessary for me to point out that the conditions in China are not now the same as they were fifty years ago. Anti-foreign sentiment amongst the educated classes is strong, and any such drastic action as the destruction of villages would no doubt result in the boycott of British trade and anti-foreign riots, the safety of the missionaries inland would be jeopardized, and it might be construed by the Chinese into an act of war.
Even the pacific measures we have adopted in increasing our patrol led to a considerable outburst of anti-foreign sentiment among the people of Canton and Wuchau.
I have, &c. (Signed) A. W. MOORE,
[2895 aa- -13]
2
In addition to these two difficulties, while the railway loan negotiations are still going on, the British have added to China's embarrassments by not settling the Peking. Syndicate's Shansi affairs and by not withdrawing their gun-boats from the West River so that China is hemmed in by England on every side.
Whatever the object of the English may be, they give ample evidence of a design to do as they like with us. If you are always trying to stand well with foreigners, thinking that a little yielding will not do much harm, whereas great advantages can thereby be gained, you may find after all that your object will not be achieved, and you will have the fate of the high officials of Egypt and of Burma before you as warnings,
It is true that China is weak, and that foreign aggression cannot be kept off by mere words; but you can have national enthusiasm at your back. If, however, you not only treat as of no account, but even seek in the interest of foreigners to suppress, the resistance offered by the people of several provinces, you are depriving this great country of the one thing that might inspire foreigners with dread, namely, the spirit of the nation. As the famous General who was put to death by his own people said, "You have yourselves destroyed your Great Wall"; and you are estopped from pleading the weakness of your country in your excuse. "A man must insult himself before others will"; and if foreign contagion is to come in, it must be invited.
(Signed) W. P. KER.
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[10151]
No. 1.
245
Britania Ustesty Goo
[March 24.]
SECTION 1.
Admiralty to Foreign Office.--(Received March 24.)
(Confidential.)
Admiralty, March 23, 1908. Sir,
WITH reference to your letter dated the 28th November, 1907, and to Admiralty letter dated the 19th December, 1907, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit berewith, for the information of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, copy of a letter, dated the 6th ultimo, which has been received from the Commander-in-chief on the China Station respecting the inadvisability of drastic measures for the suppression of piracy in Canton waters.
(Confidential.) Sir,
I am, &c.
(Signed) W. GRATIAM GREENE.
Inclosure in No. 1.
Admiral Sir A. Moore to Admiralty.
King Alfred," at Molucca, February 6, 1908, WITH reference to Admiralty letter of the 19th December, 1907, be pleased to. inform their Lordships that, as already reported in my submission of the 27th January, 1908, the necessity for taking drastic measures in connection with the suppression of piracy has now passed. The Chinese authorities are taking energetic measures, both afloat and ashore, for the suppression of piracy, and our increased patrol has been withdrawn.
2. With reference to paragraph 5 of their Lordships' letter under reply, I am still of the opinion expressed in my telegram of the 21st November, 1907. Further, I would point out that it is laid down in clause 9 (b), Article 396, China Station Orders, that "landing in pursuit of pirates within Chinese jurisdiction is strictly forbidden," and without landing in pursuit it is difficult to see how the officers commanding our gun-boats could obtain sufficient evidence against any particular village to justify them in taking measures against it.
That a piracy has been committed in the neighbourhood of a village would be no proof of the complicity of that village; rather the reverse.
8. It is unnecessary for me to point out that the conditions in China are not now the same as they were fifty years ago. Anti-foreign sentiment amongst the educated classes is strong, and any such drastic action as the destruction of villages would no doubt result in the boycott of British trade and anti-foreign riots, the safety of the missionaries inland would be jeopardized, and it might be construed by the Chinese-
into an act of war.
Even the pacific measures we have adopted in increasing our patrol led to a considerable outburst of anti-foreign sentiment among the people of Cauton and Wuchau.
I have, &c. (Signed) A. W. MOORE,
[2895 aa- -13
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