This Department has already communicated its refusal to entertain his views to the Portuguese Minister, and has also instructed the Chinese Minister, Low, to telegraph to approach the Portuguese Foreign Office on the subject and make representations in the same sense.
You are requested to communicate the above facts to the British Foreign Office in clear and definite terms.
You are also requested to state that the Imperial Government is deeply grateful for the sympathy of His Britannic Majesty's Government with the desire of China to put an end to the contraband traffic in arms at Macao.
As to the mode of procedure, which Sir Edward Grey desires to know, we suggested some time ago three rules to be followed, which run as follows:-
1. With the exception of arms and ammunition destined for the use of the Portuguese Government in Macao, the importation of which must be previously notified to the Viceroy of Canton for his consent to be obtained, no other licence whatever shall be issued by the Macao authorities to any merchant, either foreign or Chinese, for trafficking in arms and ammunition.
2. A list of all the arms and ammunition which have already been imported into Macao and are now remaining there shall be made out and supplied. Previous notice shall be given of any portion of those arms and ammunition that are to be exported from Macao.
3. The Portuguese authorities will be asked vigorously to suppress all illicit transport of arms and ammunition either into Macao or out of Macao into the interior of China.
This Department has already handed the above-mentioned three suggestions to the Portuguese Minister for communication by telegraph to his Government.
A telegram has just been received from the Chinese Minister Lew to the effect that the Portuguese Government have already instructed the Portuguese Governor of Macao to stop the issue of licences for the transportation of arms and ammunition.
Please also inform the British Foreign Office of this point, and reply by wire as soon as possible.
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA,
CONFIDENTIAL.
[June 1.]
SECTION 1.
[18786]
No. 1.
Sir F. Villiers to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received June 1.)
(No. 46. Confidential.) Sir,
Lisbon, May 26, 1908.
I had an opportunity, during a visit which I paid to the Minister for Foreign Affairs on the 9th instant, of carrying out the instructions contained in your despatch No. 22 of the 21st ultimo.
I told his Excellency that His Majesty's Government had recently taken measures to induce the local Chinese authorities to make effective provision for the security of shipping in the waterways of the Canton delta and on the West River.
It had only been after long and difficult negotiations that a satisfactory arrangement had been concluded. In dealing with this matter the Viceroy of Canton had commented upon the difficulties which occurred when questions of the arrest and extradition of criminals were referred to the Portuguese authorities at Macao, and as a proof of this, the Viceroy stated that a minimum of eight witnesses to attend and prove a crime was demanded, a number which, it was obvious, could not in many cases be found. The frequency of piratical attacks on vessels flying the British flag on the Canton and West Rivers had long been a cause of complaint against the Chinese Administration, and His Majesty's Government could not be insensible to the Viceroy's apprehension that difficulties attending the extradition of criminals from Macao might prove a stumbling-block to the effective working of the scheme for the suppression of piracy which had at length been inaugurated.
I had therefore been directed to approach the Portuguese Government informally upon this important question, and to urge that the authorities at Macao should be instructed to consider carefully the present position of affairs, with a view to establishing the fullest co-operation with the Chinese Government in the matter of extradition and generally in the prevention of smuggling.
I handed to Senhor Wenceslau de Lima an aide-mémoire to the above effect, and his Excellency said, in replying, he would explain to me certain complaints which on their side the Macao authorities had against the Chinese.
Subsequently I learnt from your despatch No. 30, Secret, of the 7th instant and from the messages recently exchanged with Sir J. Jordan, which reached me also on the 18th in the telegram sections, that the Macao question has been dealt with through the Portuguese Legation in London, and Senhor Wenceslau de Lima told me on Saturday last that he thought it would perhaps be more convenient to adhere to the same channel for communications to His Majesty's Government.
His Excellency gave me a rapid translation of a note which he was about to address to the Chinese Chargé d'Affaires here, from which I understood that the Portuguese authorities are ready to comply with the requirements of the Chinese in regard to the importation of arms, except as regards those imported for the use of the Macao Government. A copy of this note, Senhor Wenceslau de Lima said, would be forwarded to the Marquis de Soveral for your information.
I have, &c. (Signed) F. H. VILLIERS.
[1819 a-1]
70
2
2
This Department has already communicated its refusal to entertain his views the Portuguese Minister, and has also instructed the Chinese Minister, Low, telegraph to approach the Portuguese Foreign Office on the subject and representations in the same sense.
You are requested to communicate the above facts to the British Foreign Offic clear and definite termus.
You are also requested to state that the Imperial Government is deeply grate for the sympathy of His Britannic Majesty's Government with the desire of China put an end to the contraband traffic in arms at Macao.
As to the mode of procedure, which Sir Edward Grey desires to know, we s time ago suggested three rules to be followed, which run as follows:-
1. With the exception of arms and ammunition destined for the use of Portuguese Government in Macao, the importation of which must be previously notif to the Viceroy of Canton for his consent to be obtained, no other licence whatever sh be issued by the Macao authorities to any merchant, either foreign or Chine for trafficking in arms and ammunition.
2. A list of all the arms and ammunition which have already been imported i Macao and are now remaining there shall be made out and supplied. Previous not shall be given of any portion of those arms and ammunition that are to be export from Macao.
3. The Portuguese authorities will be asked vigorously to suppress all il transport of arms and ammunition either into Macao or out of Macao into the inter of China.
This Department has already handed the above-mentioned three suggestions the Portuguese Minister for communication by telegraph to his Government.
A telegram has just been received from the Chinese Minister Lew to the ef that the Portuguese Government have already instructed the Portuguese Governor Macao to stop the issue of licences for the transportation of arms and ammunition.
Please also inform the British Foreign Office of this point, and reply by wire soon as possible.
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.}
AFFAIRS OF CHINA,
CONFIDENTIAL.
[June 1.]
SECTION 1.
[18786]
No. 1.
Sir F. Villiers to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received June 1.)
(No. 46. Confidential.) Sir,
Lisbon, May 26, 1908. I HAD an opportunity, during a visit which I paid to the Minister for Foreign Affairs on the 9th instant, of carrying out the instructions contained in your despatch No. 22 of the 21st ultimo,
I told his Excellency that His Majesty's Government had recently taken measures to induce the local Chinese authorities to make effective provision for the security of shipping in the waterways of the Canton delta and on the West River.
It had only been after long and difficult negotiations that a satisfactory arrangement had been concluded. In dealing with this matter the Viceroy of Canton had commented upon the difficulties which occurred when questions of the arrest and extradition of criminals were referred to the Portuguese authorities at Macao, and as a proof of this, the Viceroy stated that a minimum of eight witnesses to attend and prove a crime was demanded, a number which, it was obvious, could not in many cases be found, The frequency of piratical attacks on vessels flying the British flag on the Canton and West Rivers had long been a cause of complaint against the Chinese Administration, and His Majesty's Government could not be insensible to the Viceroy's apprehension that difficulties attending the extradition of criminals from Macao might prove a stumbling-block to the effective working of the scheme for the suppression of piracy whieh had at length been inaugurated. I had therefore been directed to approach the Portuguese Government informally upon this important question, and to urge that the authorities at Macao should be instructed to consider carefully the present position of affairs, with a view to establishing the fullest co-operation with the Chinese Government in the matter of extradition and generally in the prevention of smuggling.
I handed to Senhor Wenceslau de Lima an aide-mémoire to the above effect, and his Excellency said, in replying, he would explain to me certain complaints which on their side the Macao authorities had against the Chinese.
Subsequently I learnt from your despatch No. 30, Secret, of the 7th instant and from the messages recently exchanged with Sir J. Jordan, which reached me also on the 18th in the telegram sections, that the Macao question has been dealt with through the Portuguese Legation in London, and Senhor Wenceslau de Lima told me on Saturday last that he thought it would perhaps be more convenient to adhere to the same channel for communications to His Majesty's Government. His Excellency gave me a rapid translation of a note which he was about to address to the Chinese Chargé d'Affaires here, from which I understood that the Portuguese authorities are ready to comply with the requirements of the Chinese in regard to the importation of arms, except as regards those imported for the use of the Macao Government. A copy of this note, Senhor Wenceslau de Lima said, would be forwarded to the Marquis de Soveral for your information.
I have, &c. (Signed) F. H. VILLIERS.
[1819 a-1]
70
2
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