This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
C. O.
18960 581
R 26 MAY 081
[April 24.]
SECTION 1.
[13978]
No. 1.
Mr. Leech to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received April 24.)
(No. 144.) Sir,
Peking, March 28, 1908.
WITH reference to Sir John Jordan's despatch No. 130, Confidential, of the 16th instant, in which he reported on the settlement of the "Tatsu Maru" incident, I have the honour to state that the Portuguese Legation in consequence have not taken, and do not intend to take, any further steps in the matter.
The Portuguese Chargé d'Affaires, under instructions from his Government, twice made protests in Peking, but no attention was paid to them by the Wai-wu Pu, and I gather that it is now considered best to say no more about the matter.
I am informed by Admiral Moore that the spot at which the "Tatsu Maru" anchored was in waters which are considered outside the courtesy boundary, that is to say, in waters where vessels leaving Macao with opium would be searched, and, if found without a Chinese permit, would be detained.
I have the honour to inclose copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Consul-General at Canton on the subject.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
STEPHEN LEECH.
(No. 9.) Sir,
Inclosure in No. 1.
Consul-General Mansfield to Sir J. Jordan.
Canton, March 11, 1908.
SEIZURE by Chinese Government of the Japanese steam-ship "Tatsu Maru II."
Hitherto expecting a speedy settlement of this case, I have only communicated to you in my telegram No. 8 of the 27th February that part of the case which affects British interests, viz., the delay in the delivery of Messrs. Butterfield and Swire's consignment of coal now on board the above ship.
As, however, it now appears from the accounts in the press that the matter has become one of international importance, I will endeavour to put you in possession of the established facts of the case and the contention of the parties interested in it.
The following are the bare facts :-
On the 30th January the "Tatsu Maru II" sailed from Moji having on board 1,714 tons of coal under a part charter signed at Kobe by a Japanese agent "by telegraphic authority from Butterfield and Swire." This part charter, which has been shown me, was merely to carry about 2,000 tons of coal from Moji to Hong Kong, "with liberty to deviate for the purpose of saving life and property." The steamer, however, went direct to Macao, and anchored at a spot about 7 nautical miles from the Macao Lighthouse and about 2 miles off Koho Point, which is in the eastern extremity of the island, called in the chart Hobo Island, but known locally as Kwo Lu Wan.
The Chinese had been warned by a telegram that a shipment of arms was being made by the steamer, and on the 5th February she was boarded by Chinese gun-boats, accompanied by a launch belonging to the Imperial Maritime Customs of Lappa, and brought to Canton.
The Chinese contention is that the ship had committed a breach of the last paragraph of Article V of the Japanese Treaty of 1896; that she had on board 2,250 Mauser rifles and (I think) some 50,000 rounds of cartridges, and that her hatches were opened and derricks ready for discharging the arms in Chinese territory.
The Japanese contention, as far as I can gather, is that the arms were exported from Kobe to Macao under a proper Government permit; that the ship was duly cleared for Macao, and that she was as near to Macao as her draught of 23 feet permitted.
It is further averred that the Japanese flag was insulted by being hauled down after the seizure, the Chinese flag being substituted for it; that the seizure was made by order of, and by the employés
[2921 aa-1]
2.
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
C. O.
18960 581
R 26 MAY 081
[April 24.]
SECTION 1.
[13978]
No. 1.
Mr. Leech to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received April 24.)
(No. 144.) Sir,
Peking, March 28, 1908. WITH reference to Sir John Jordan's despatch No. 130, Confidential, of the 16th instant, in which he reported on the settlement of the "Tatsu Maru" incident, I have the honour to state that the Portuguese Legation in consequence have not taken, and do not intend to take, any further steps in the matter.
The Portuguese Chargé d'Affaires, under instructions from his Government, twice made protests in Peking, but no attention was paid to them by the Wai-wu Pu, and I gather that it is now considered best to say no more about the matter.
I am informed by Admiral Moore that the spot at which the "Tatsu Marn" anchored was in waters which are considered outside the courtesy boundary, that is to say, in waters where vessels leaving Macao with opium would be searched, and, if found without a Chinese permit, would be detained.
I have the honour to inclose copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Consul-General at Canton on the subject.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
STEPHEN LEECH.
(No. 9.) Sir,
Inclosure in No. 1.
Consul-General Mansfield to Sir J. Jordan.
Canton, March 11, 1908. SEIZURE by Chinese Government of the Japanese steam-ship "Tatsu Maru II." Hitherto expecting a speedy settlement of this case, I have only communicated to you in my telegram No. 8 of the 27th February that part of the case which affects British interests, viz., the delay in the delivery of Messrs. Butterfield and Swire's con- signment of coal now on board the above ship. As, however, it now appears from the accounts in the press that the matter has become one of international importance, I will endeavour to put you in possession of the established facts of the case and the contention of the parties interested in it.
The following are the bare facts :-
On the 30th January the "Tatsu Maru II" sailed from Moji having on board 1,714 tons of coal under a part charter signed at Kobe by a Japanese agent "by telegraphic authority from Butterfield and Swire." This part charter, which has been shown me, was merely to carry about 2,000 tons of coal from Moji to Hong Kong, "with liberty to deviate for the purpose of saving life and property." The steamer, however, went direct to Macao, and anchored at a spot about 7 nautical miles from the Macao Lighthouse and about 2 miles off Koho Point, which is in the eastern extremity of the island, called in the chart Hobo Island, but known locally as Kwo Lu Wan. The Chinese had been warned by a telegram that a shipment of arms was being made by the steamer, and on the 5th February she was boarded by Chinese gun-boats, accompanied by a launch belonging to the Imperial Maritime Customs of Lappa, and brought to Canton. The Chinese contention is that the ship had committed a breach of the last paragraph of Article V of the Japanese Treaty of 1896; that she had on board 2,250 Mauser rifles and (I think) some 50,000 rounds of cartridges, and that her hatches were opened and derricks ready for discharging the arms in Chinese territory. The Japanese contention, as far as I can gather, is that the arms were exported from Kobe to Macao under a proper Government permit; that the ship was duly cleared for Macao, and that she was as near to Macao as her draught of 23 feet permitted. It is further averred that the Japanese flag was insulted by being hauled down after the seizure, the Chinese flag being substituted for it; that the seizure was made by order of, and by the employés
[2921 aa-1]
M
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