This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
14855.
[March 21]
# AFFAIRS OF CHINA
CONFIDENTIAL.
[9687]
No. 1.
-28-4PR 081
SECTION 4. 355
(No. 55.) Sir,
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received March 21.)
Peking, February 2, 1908.
IN continuation of my despatch No. 39 of the 22nd January last, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith copies of two despatches from His Majesty's Consul-General at Canton, reporting the final settlement of the claims arising out of the piracy of the British steamer "Sainam" on the 13th July, 1906.
23
In a telegram dated the 25th December last, Admiral Moore inquired whether, if the Chinese preventive service was organized to his satisfaction, and a compassionate allowance instead of compensation was offered in payment of the "Sainam" claims, I would still consider it necessary to maintain our increased patrol on the Canton waters. My reply was that if the claims were paid in full, even as a compassionate allowance, I considered that the increased patrol might be withdrawn, but that we should be careful to accept no formula which prevented the case from forming a precedent.
The Chinese have a rooted objection to the word compensation as ordinarily rendered by us in their own language, and knowing the difficulties insistence upon the term would involve I considered it only fair to give Mr. Mansfield as much latitude as possible in the matter, It will be seen that the terms of the final settlement as finally drawn up in English between His Majesty's Consul-General and the Viceroy's Secretaries, described the payment as compensation; that the Viceroy, in his despatch confirming the Agreement, speaks of it as a compassionate allowance; while the Consul-General, in acknowledging the receipt of this communication, concludes the correspondence by reaffirming the original description.
This arrangement represented a workable compromise, safeguarded the precedent, and appears to be the best that could have been obtained under the circumstances.
The total indemnity paid amounts to 86,477 dol. 77 c. (£3,016. 13s. 11d.). Mr. Mansfield reduced the claims of the Chinese crew and passengers by one-half, and has made some modifications in the apportionment of the total among the various claimants, which seem to be fully justifiable, and which I approved by telegraph.
The inclosed copy of a letter from Admiral Moore sets forth the conditions under which he was prepared to withdraw the increased patrol, and, as my telegram No. 19 of the 24th ultimo will have informed you, the patrol was finally withdrawn on the receipt of the required assurances from the Viceroy.
It only remains for me to express my high appreciation of the skill and firmness with which Mr. Mansfield has handled this difficult case. It is the first time, so far as I am aware, that we have ever obtained satisfaction for an outrage of this kind, although they have been of comparatively frequent occurrence during the last thirty years, and the credit for the settlement largely belongs to the Agent on the spot, who had the firmness to withstand, and the judgment to appraise at its proper value, the local agitation which the question aroused.
I have, &c. (Signed)
J. N. JORDAN.
(No. 2.) Sir,
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Consul-General Mansfield to Sir J. Jordan.
Canton, January 14, 1908.
I HAVE the honour to report that on the 2nd instant I had a long interview with the Viceroy to discuss the "Sainam" piracy claims. I furnished him with a résumé in Chinese of our claims. He began by stating that he was willing and had before so stated to compensate Mrs. Macdonald, but he thought the amount excessive and proposed a smaller one. I told him what my instructions were and that I was not
[2895 -4]
Page 360
Page 361
C, 0.
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
14855.
[March 21]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[9687]
No. 1.
-28-4PR 081
SECTION 4. 355
(No. 55.) Sir,
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received Murch 21.)
Peking, February 2, 1908.
IN continuation of my despatch No. 39 of the 22nd January last, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith copies of two despatches from His Majesty's Consul- General at Canton, reporting the final settlement of the claims arising out of the piracy of the British steamer "Sainam on the 13th July, 1906.
23
In a telegram dated the 25th December last, Admiral Moore inquired whether, if the Chinese preventive service was organized to his satisfaction, and a compassionate allowance instead of compensation was offered in payment of the "Sainam" claims, I would still consider it necessary to maintain our increased patrol on the Canton waters. My reply was that if the claims were paid in full, even as a compassionate allowance, I considered that the increased patrol might be withdrawn, but that we should be careful to accept no formula which prevented the case from forming a precedent.
The Chinese have a rooted objection to the word compensation as ordinarily rendered by us in their own language, and knowing the difficulties insistence upon the term would involve I considered it only fair to give Mr. Mansfield as much latitude as possible in the matter, It will be seen that the terms of the final settlement as finally drawn up in English between His Majesty's Consul-General and the Viceroy's Secre- taries, described the payment as compensation; that the Viceroy, in his despatch confirming the Agreement, speaks of it as a compassionate allowance; while the Consul- General, in acknowledging the receipt of this communication, concludes the correspon- dence by reaffirming the original description.
This arrangement represented a workable compromise, safeguarded the precedent, and appears to be the best that could have been obtained under the circumstances.
The total indemnity paid amounts to 86,477 dol. 77 c. (13,016. 13s. 11d.). Mr. Mansfield reduced the claims of the Chinese crew and passengers by one-half, and has made some modifications in the apportionment of the total among the various claimants, which seem to be fully justifiable, and which I approved by telegraph.
The inclosed copy of a letter from Admiral Moore sets forth the conditions under which he was prepared to withdraw the inercased patrol, and, as my telegram No. 19 of the 24th ultimo will have informed you, the patrol was finally withdrawn on the receipt of the required assurances from the Viceroy.
It only remains for me to express my high appreciation of the skill and firmness with which Mr. Mansfield has handled this difficult case. It is the first time, so far as I am aware, that we have ever obtained satisfaction for an outrage of this kind, although they have been of comparatively frequent occurrence during the last thirty years, and the credit for the settlement largely belongs to the Agent on the spot, who had the firmness to withstand, and the judgment to appraise at its proper value, the local agita- tion which the question aroused.
I have, &c. (Signed)
J. N. JORDAN.
(No. 2.) Sir,
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Consul-General Mansfield to Sir J. Jordan.
Canton, January 14, 1908.
I HAVE the honour to report that on the 2nd instant I had a long interview with I furnished him with a résumé in the Viceroy to discuss the "Sainam" piracy claims.
Chinese of our claims. He began by stating that he was willing and had before so stated to compensate Mrs. Macdonald, but he thought the amount excessive aud proposed a smaller one. I told him what my instructions were and that I was not
[2895 -4]
Page 360Page 361
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