427
2
demanded from the Acting Governor-General what steps he was taking to safeguard them, and insisted on the poisoners being tried by court-martial and executed forthwith. M. Bonhoure at first refused to parley with them, and endeavoured to induce them to go away. A very regrettable scene ensued, and I understand that the Acting Governor-General was actually hustled and for a time in danger of rough treatment. He finally explained to the demonstrators the reasons why the Tribunal he had appointed was to be preferred to a court-martial, and told them that if there was an alarm they could take refuge in the citadel (where the barracks are). In the meantime, someone had telephoned to the barracks that a crowd had entered Government House. The military authorities understood that it was being attacked by rebels, and dispatched troops there at the double, at the same time sounding a call to arms; and for the rest of the night Hanoi was in a state of excitement and alarms.
The plot is believed to have been originated by a refugee Prince of Annam, Cuong-Dê (referred to in Inclosure 2 of my Confidential despatch No. 3 of the 12th March, 1907), formerly in Japan, but now, it is said, either in Canton or Hong Kong.
The band of 500 or 600 Chinese revolutionaries who entered Tonquin from Yünnan and destroyed a French detachment at Ban Mang, as recounted in my No. 9 of the 23rd ultimo, has not yet been disposed of. It has divided into two parties, against both of which mixed forces of the Foreign Legion and of the Tirailleurs Tonkinois are operating. It is feared that the Chinese will break up into groups of twos and threes and so gradually escape; in which case many of them will doubtless join the various bands of dacoits in the country.
The number of native soldiers killed in the affair at Ban Mang was exaggerated in the first reports, many men who had simply fled having subsequently rejoined. The corrected list gives the casualties as follows: Killed, 2 French officers, 2 French non-commissioned officers, 22 tirailleurs; seriously wounded, 24 tirailleurs; missing (but afterwards recovered), and slightly wounded, 50 tirailleurs.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
T. F. CARLISLE.
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[27487]
No. 1.
Sir Edward Grey to Sir A. Nicolson.
4 SEP 08
[August 10.]
SECTION 1.
(No. 242.) Sir,
Foreign Office, August 10, 1908. WITH reference to Mr. O'Beirne's despatch No. 333 of the 23rd ultimo, I transmit to your Excellency herewith copies of telegraphic correspondence with His Majesty's Minister at Peking on the subject of the administration of the estate of the alleged British subject, MacDonough [?], who died recently at Harbin.*
If you see no objection, pending the receipt of the particulars called for from His Majesty's Minister at Peking, you may express your thanks to the Russian Government for the action taken by the Russian Consul General at Harbin, in the absence of any British Consular Representative at that place.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
E. GREY.
*To Sir J. Jordan, No. 107, Telegraphic, August 5; Sir J. Jordan, No. 141, Telegraphic, August 7, 1908.
[1905 k-1]
427
2
demanded from the Acting Governor-General what steps he was taking to safeguard them, and insisted on the poisoners being tried by court-martial and executed forth- with. M. Bonhoure at first refused to parley with them, and endeavoured to induce them to go away. A very regrettable scene ensued, and I understand that the Acting Governor-General was actually hustled and for a time in danger of rough treatment. He finally explained to the demonstrators the reasons why the Tribunal he had appointed was to be preferred to a court-martial, and told them that if there was an alarm they could take refuge in the citadel (where the barracks are). In the meantime, some one had telephoned to the barracks that a crowd had entered Government House. The military authorities understood that it was being attacked by rebels, and dispatched troops there at the double, at the same time sounding a call to arms; and for the rest of the night Hanoi was in a state of excitement and alarms.
The plot is believed to have been originated by a refugee Prince of Annam, Cuong-Dê (referred to in Inclosure 2 of my Confidential despatch No. 3 of the 12th March, 1907), formerly in Japan, but now, it is said, either in Canton or Hong Kong.
The band of 500 or 600 Chinese revolutionaries who entered Tonquin from Yünnan and destroyed a French detachment at Ban Mang, as recounted in my No. 9 of the 23rd ultimo, has not yet been disposed of. It has divided into two parties, against both of which mixed forces of the Foreign Legion and of the Tirailleurs Tonkinois are operating. It is feared that the Chinese will break up into groups of twos and threes and so gradually escape; in which case many of them will doubtless join the various bands of dacoits in the country.
The number of native soldiers killed in the affair at Ban Mang was exaggerated in the first reports, many men who had simply fled having subsequently rejoined. The corrected list gives the casualties as follows: Killed, 2 French officers, 2 French non- commissioned officers, 22 tirailleurs; seriously wounded, 24 tirailleurs; missing (but afterwards recovered), and slightly wounded, 50 tirailleurs.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
T. Ft. CARLISLE.
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[27487]
No. 1.
Sir Edward Grey to Sir A. Nicolson.
4 SEP 08
[August 10.]
SECTION 1.
(No. 242.) Sir,
Foreign Office, August 10, 1908. WITH reference to Mr. O'Beirne's despatch No. 333 of the 23rd ultimo, I transmit to your Excellency herewith copies of telegraphic correspondence with His Majesty's Minister at Peking on the subject of the administration of the estate of the alleged British subject, MacDonough [?], who died recently at Harbin.*
If you see no objection, pending the receipt of the particulars called for from His Majesty's Minister at Peking, you may express your thanks to the Russian Government for the action taken by the Russian Consul General at Harbin, in the absence of any British Consular Representative at that place.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
E. GREY.
*To Sir J. Jordan, No. 107, Telographio, August 5; Sir J. Jordan, No. 141, Telegraphic, August 7, 1908.
[1905 k-1]
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