This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
283
C.O.
42997
Chinese and Foreigners.
In their intelligence Reports for the last quarter, both His Majesty's Consuls at Chinafa and Chungking deal at some length with the question of Chinese antagonism to foreigners. In both districts members of various secret societies and students' associations have been indulging in tirades on such grievances as foreigners' extra-territorial rights, foreign loans, &c., and representations have had to be made to the local authorities on the subject of attacks on individual foreigners, and of meetings held by the gentry and students with the object of deciding on the best means for driving foreigners from the country. To such incidents undue significance may too readily be attached by alarmists, but it is probably true that any incautious act on the part of foreigners in times of distress—as, for instance, in the Chinanfu district during the present drought and famine—might easily cause serious trouble. In too many cases, unfortunately, the local officials would be terrorized by any show of popular disturbance. An instance of this occurred late in June in Chungking in connection with the arrest of a Frenchman charged with theft. The accused was dragged to the Magistrate's yamen, where the French Consul on arrival found the Magistrate in a pitiable state of fright, and anxious to give the accused a bambooing in front of the crowd as the only means of allaying popular excitement. The Magistrate had to agree to the French Consul's demand to have the prisoner handed over to him for proper trial, but such was the Chinese official's fright that the Consul was only permitted to remove the man at night.
Miscellaneous.
The Emperor's health has been giving cause for anxiety, and numerous doctors have been summoned to the palace lately. Notices have now been sent to the Chinese press announcing his recovery, and though it is impossible to obtain reliable information on any such subjects connected with the Court, there would seem no reason to credit the report, emanating from Canton, that the fact of the Emperor's death is being concealed.
Chou Taotai, the Director of Mines and Commerce for Szechuan, has made an attempt to rival the success of Count Zeppelin in the way of dirigible airships. Everything was provided according to the most modern ideas, a fine silk case for the balloon, a set of wings worked by treadles, &c.; unfortunately, owing to the balloon not being gas-tight, the experiment failed, to the disappointment of everyone but the aeronaut, a lad from a foundling school, whom Chou Taotai, with great sagacity, had selected for the post of honour.
[B]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[38028]
No. 1.
[November 2.]
SECTION 6.
24 NOV OC
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received November 2.) (No. 416.) Sir,
Peking, September 14, 1908.
I HAVE the honour to inclose copies of correspondence between the Wai-wu Pu and myself respecting the Mission of his Excellency Tong Shao-yi, which formed the subject of my despatch No. 355 of the 4th August.
As stated in the Imperial Decree inclosed in Prince Ching's note, the Mission has for its chief object the study of foreign financial systems with the view of reorganizing the financial administration of China. The Chinese Government recognizes that this is the pressing reform of the moment, and that without it other reforms are practically impossible. China, already a debtor State to the extent of some 120,000,000l., will require in future years to make still larger demands upon the money markets of the world, and fully realizes that, although her credit remains abnormally good, she cannot expect to obtain the necessary funds for railways and other productive works until she has reduced her finances to order and published an annual Budget. The people of China are now firmly convinced that the construction of railways is necessary for the maintenance of their national existence, but they are determined that their construction shall not involve any sacrifice of the country's sovereign rights, and that the transaction shall, as far as possible, be placed upon a purely financial basis. The efforts that have been made to raise Chinese capital for such undertakings have, so far, been attended with meagre success, and nearly all the available revenue of the country is pledged for the service of foreign loans. Tong Ta-jen and other statesmen feel that the only remedy lies in overhauling the whole financial system, and evolving some order out of the chaos which exists at present. China is very poor in expert knowledge of this kind, and without foreign assistance it is hard to see how the task can ever be accomplished. As a first step, the Chinese naturally turn their thoughts to the enforcement of the 8th Article of the Mackay Treaty, but they see in that only a partial alleviation of their difficulties, and are fully aware that no mere adjustment of customs revenue will enable them to meet the national needs.
Tong Ta-jen himself has had some opportunity of studying financial problems in India, where he found the economic conditions very analogous to those of China. He is accompanied by a staff of some thirty persons, mostly young men drawn from all parts of the Empire, and it is noticeable that several members of the Mission, including two sons of Prince Ching, belong to noble Manchu families, who, until recently, practically spent their existence within the walls of Peking.
The Mission, which leaves this place within a fortnight, proceeds first to Tôkiô, where it will spend six weeks. While there, Mr. Tong proposes to discuss the Fakumen Railway project with Baron Komura, and as both of them were parties to the Protocol of the 22nd December, 1905, it is possible that they may reach some understanding.
The Mission will then cross to the United States, and remain in Washington until the installation of the new President, when it will proceed to London in April, staying there some six weeks. Paris, Berlin, and St. Petersburgh will be visited in succession, but Mr. Tong tells me that he is most anxious, if possible, to include Egypt in his tour and learn something of British administration there. He would also like to see something of the experiment Turkey is making in introducing a Constitution; and thinks that the lesson of Morocco, were it possible to go there, would not be lost upon his staff.
Mr. Tong has specially asked me to enlist the good offices of His Majesty's Government in enabling him to discharge the duties of his mission in England, which, as he frankly states, is the country that especially interests him, as being most likely to supply China with the financial assistance she will need for her future development.
I am sending a copy of this despatch to His Majesty's Ambassador at Tôkiô.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
[2029 7-6]
2
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government. į
283
C.O.
42997
Chinese and Foreigners.
In their intelligence Reports for the last quarter, both His Majesty's Consuls at Chinaofa and Chungking deal at some length with the question of Chinese antagonism to foreigners. In both districts members of various secret societies and students' associations have been indulging in tirades on such grievances as foreigners' extra- territorial rights, foreign loans, &c., and representations have had to be made to the local authorities on the subject of attacks on individual foreigners, and of meetings held by the gentry and students with the object of deciding on the best means for driving foreigners from the country. To such incidents undue significance may too readily be attached by alarmists, but it is probably true that any incautious act on the part of foreigners in times of distress--as, for instance, in the Chinanfu district during the present drought and famine-might easily cause serious trouble. In too many cases, unfortunately, the local officials would be terrorized by any show of popular disturbance. An instance of this occurred late in June in Chungking in connection with the arrest of a Frenchman charged with theft. The accused was dragged to the Magistrate's yamen, where the French Consul on arrival found the Magistrate in a pitiable state of fright, and anxious to give the accused a bambooing in front of the crowd as the only means of allaying popular excitement. The Magistrate had to agree to the French Consul's demand to have the prisoner handed over to him for proper trial, but such was the Chinese official's fright that the Consul was only permitted to remove the man at night.
Miscellaneous.
The Emperor's health has been giving cause for anxiety, and numerous doctors have been summoned to the palace lately. Notices have now been sent to the Chinese press announcing his recovery, and though it is impossible to obtain reliable information on any such subjects connected with the Court, there would seem no reason to credit the report, emanating from Canton, that the fact of the Emperor's death is being concealed.
Chou Taotai, the Director of Mines and Commerce for Szechuan, has made an attempt to rival the success of Count Zeppelin in the way of dirigible airships. Everything was provided according to the most modern ideas, a fiue silk case for the balloon, a set of wings worked by treadles, &c.; unfortunately, owing to the balloon not being gas-tight, the experiment failed, to the disappointment of every one but the aeronaut, a lad from a foundling school, whom Chou Taotai, with great sagacity, had selected for the post of honour.
[B]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[38028]
No. 1.
[November 2.]
SECTION 6.
24 NOV OC
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received November 2.) (No. 416.) Sir,
Peking, September 14, 1908. I HAVE the honour to inclose copies of correspondence between the Wai-wu Pu and myself respecting the Mission of his Excellency Tong Shon-yi, which formed the subject of my despatch No. 355 of the 4th August.
As stated in the Imperial Decree inclosed in Prince Ching's note, the Mission has for its chief object the study of foreign financial systems with the view of reorganizing the financial administration of China. The Chinese Government recognizes that this is the pressing reform of the moment, and that without it other reforms are practically impossible. China, already a debtor State to the extent of some 120,000,0007, will require in future years to make still larger demands upon the money markets of the world, and fully realizes that, although her credit remains abnormally good, she cannot expect to obtain the necessary funds for railways and other productive works until she has reduced her finances to order and published an annual Budget. The people of China are now firmly convinced that the construction of railways is necessary for the mainten- ance of their national existence, but they are determined that their construction shall not involve any sacrifice of the country's sovereign rights, and that the transaction shall, as far as possible, be placed upon a purely financial basis. The efforts that have heen made to raise Chinese capital for such undertakings have, so far, been attended with meagre success, and nearly all the available revenue of the country is pledged for the service of foreign loans. Tong Ta-jén and other statesmen feel that the only remedy lies in overhauling the whole financial system, and evolving some order out of the chaos which exists at present. China is very poor in expert knowledge of this king, and without foreign assistance it is hard to see how the task can ever be accomplished. As a first step, the Chinese naturally turn their thoughts to the enforce- ment of the 8th Article of the Mackay Treaty, but they see in that only a partial alleviation of their difficulties, and are fully aware that no mere adjustment of customs revenue will enable them to meet the national needs.
Tong Ta-jên himself has had some opportunity of studying financial problems in India, where he found the economic conditions very analogous to those of China. He is accompanied by a staff of some thirty persons, mostly young men drawn from all parts of the Empire, and it is noticeable that several members of the Mission, including two sous of Prince Ching, belong to noble Manchu families, who, until recently, practically spent their existence within the walls of Peking.
The Mission, which leaves this place within a fortnight, proceeds first to Tôkið, where it will spend six weeks. While there, Mr. Tong proposes to discuss the Fakumen Railway project with Baron Komura, and as both of them were parties to the Protocol of the 22nd December, 1905, it is possible that they may reach some understanding.
The Mission will then cross to the United States, and remain in Washington until the installation of the new President, when it will proceed to London in April, staying there some six weeks. Paris, Berlin, and St. Petersburgh will be visited in succession, but Mr. Tong tells me that he is most anxious, if possible, to include Egypt in his tour and learn something of British administration there. He would also like to see something of the experiment Turkey is making in introducing a Constitution; and thinks that the lesson of Morocco, were it possible to go there, would not be lost upon his staff.
Mr. Tong has specially asked me to enlist the good offices of His Majesty's Government in enabling him to discharge the duties of his mission in England, which, as he frankly states, is the country that especially interests him, as being most likely to supply China with the financial assistance she will need for her future development.
I am sending a copy of this despatch to His Majesty's Ambassador at Tôkið.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
(2029 7-6]
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