This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[June 24.]
SECTION 1.
[21726]
(No. 249.) Sir,
No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received June 24.)
Peking, June 4, 1908.
I HAVE the honour to transmit to you herewith a Report drawn up by Mr. Seeds, Third Secretary in His Majesty's Legation, summarizing the events of minor importance which have occurred during the past month.
I have, &c. (Signed)
J. N. JORDAN,
Inclosure in No. 1.
Summary of Events for the month of May.
Amoy.
A FURTHER instance of the activity displayed by the Japanese in this district is to be found in the efforts now being made by the Japanese Consul to secure the appointment of one of his nationals as foreign engineer in charge of the Amoy-Changchou Railway. This line, which was reported on in the monthly summary inclosed in Sir J. Jordan's despatch No. 101 of the 3rd March last, is making slow progress owing, to some extent, to the present foreign engineer. The Railway Company wish to dismiss this person—a Frenchman—and to engage a British engineer in his place. This the Japanese Consul is strenuously opposing. He is, unfortunately for British interests, sure of the support of the Amoy Taotai, an official with strong pro-Japanese leanings.
In another case which occurred some little time ago the Japanese efforts were crowned with success. A Company which had been formed to exploit some mines near O-thau, not far from Chuanchou-fu, had engaged a British engineer, but the Japanese Consul was successful in bullying the Company into dismissing the Englishman and appointing a Japanese engineer in his stead.
Chengtu.
The Manchu Garrison at Chengtu.---Dissatisfaction among the members of the Manchu garrison with the Edict of September and the Proclamation of November last respecting the removal of distinctions between Manchus and Chinese and the provision of a working livelihood for the former, culminated on the 19th January in a riot in the Tartar city. Some hundreds of Manchus, men and women, went to the Tartar General's yamên and commenced to wreck the buildings. The assistance of the Chengtu police and of the Chinese garrison troops were called in, and the Acting Viceroy, with the whole body of local officials, went to the scene of the disturbance, which was suppressed before any very serious damage was done. The Tartar General and the Acting Viceroy reported the affair to the Throne, and on the 20th January a Rescript was received ordering the punishment of the ringleaders and of the officers whose duty it should have been to suppress any such outbreak.
A lengthy Proclamation in the vulgar dialect was issued at the end of February, explaining that, to guard against the increasing poverty likely to result gradually from the increase in their numbers, land is to be given to the bannermen to cultivate, and schools are to be established where they may learn to gain a living, and that there is no intention of withdrawing their pensions without compensation. A severe warning is given against further disturbances.
The Chuan Han Railway—No further statement of accounts would seem to have been published since the balance sheet of the 9th July, 1907, which formed the subject of Sir J. Jordan's despatch No. 549 of the 25th November last. There is no great
[1819 aa-1]
77
į
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[June 24.]
SECTION 1.
[21726]
(No. 249.) Sir,
No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received June 24.)
Peking, June 4, 1908. I HAVE the honour to transmit to you herewith a Report drawn up by Mr. Seeds, Third Secretary in His Majesty's Legation, summarizing the events of minor importance which have occurred during the past month.
I have, &c. (Signed)
J. N. JORDAN,
Inclosure in No. 1.
Summary of Events for the month of May.
Amoy.
A FURTHER instance of the activity displayed by the Japanese in this district is to be found in the efforts now being niade by the Japanese Consul to secure the appointment of one of his nationals as foreign engineer in charge of the Amoy- Changchou Railway. This line, which was reported on in the monthly summary inclosed in Sir J. Jordan's despatch No. 101 of the 3rd March last, is making slow progress owing, to some extent, to the present foreign engineer. The Railway Company wish to dismiss this person-a Frenchman-and to engage a British engineer. in his place. This the Japanese Consul is strenuously opposing. He is, unfortunately for British interests, sure of the support of the Amoy Taotai, an official with strong pro-Japanese leanings.
In another case which occurred some little time ago the Japanese efforts were crowned with success. A Company which had been formed to exploit some mines near 0-thau, not far from Chuanchou-fu, had engaged a British engineer, but the Japanese Consul was successful in bullying the Company into dismissing the Englishman and appointing a Japanese engineer in his stead.
Chengtu.
The Manchu Garrison at Chengtu.---Dissatisfaction among the members of the Manchu garrison with the Edict of September and the Proclamation of November last respecting the removal of distinctions between Manchus and Chinese and the provision of a working livelihood for the former, culminated on the 19th January in a riot in the Tartar city. Some hundreds of Manchus, men and women, went to the Tartar General's yamên and commenced to wreck the buildings. The assistance of the Chengtu police and of the Chinese garrison troops were called in, and the Acting Viceroy, with the whole body of local officials, went to the scene of the disturbance, which was suppressed before any very serious damage was done. The Tartar General and the Acting Viceroy reported the affair to the Throne, and on the 20th January a Rescript was received ordering the punishment of the ringleaders and of the officers whose duty it should have been to suppress any such outbreak.
A lengthy Proclamation in the vulgar dialect was issued at the end of February, explaining that, to guard against the increasing poverty likely to result gradually from the increase in their numbers, land is to be given to the bannermen to cultivate, and schools are to be established where they may learn to gain a living, and that there is no intention of withdrawing their pensions without compensation. A severe warning is given against further disturbances.
The Chuan Han Railway-No further statement of accounts would seem to have been published since the balance sheet of the 9th July, 1907, which formed the subject of Sir J. Jordan's despatch No. 549 of the 25th November last. There is no great
[1819 aa-1]
77
!
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