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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
C. O.
148
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[766]
No. 1.
3230
[January 7.]
SECTION 1 28
1.09
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey-(Received January 7, 1909.)
(No. 567.) Sir,
Peking, December 18, 1908. IN continuation of my despatch No. 529 of the 25th November, I have the honour toinclose a translation of the Chinese Government's reply to my representations regarding the anti-Japanese riot at Hong Kong on the 1st and 2nd November.
It will be seen that the Canton Viceroy denies the existence of the Society to whose action the movement had been attributed, and asserts that the agitation was fomented by residents in Hong Kong itself.
The despatch from His Majesty's Acting Consul-General at Canton, of which I also have the honour to inclose a copy, records the views of the Japanese Consul on the present position of the boycott movement. The Self-Government Society therein mentioned has made its power felt recently in another case, and presents a serious danger in the midst of a population so excitable as the Cantonese.
In discussing the situation with the Wai-wu Pu on the 8th December, I again drew their attention to the grave consequences which might ensue to the good relations of our two countries if the remissness of the Canton authorities allowed any further incitement from the Chinese side to revive the boycott movement in Hong Kong. The evidence of the Hong Kong police placed it beyond doubt that the riot of the 1st November was organized from Canton, and the ringleaders should certainly be rigorously dealt with.
I have, &c. (Signed)
J. N. JORDAN.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Sir,
Prince Ching to Sir J. Jordan.
Peking, December 2, 1908.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's note of the 24th November, on the subject of riots in Hong Kong in connection with the hoycott against Japanese goods, and organized from Canton by the so-called "National Disgrace Society.' Your Excellency calls attention to the injury to good relations involved by such proceedings, and requests that the Viceroy may be urged to take precautions for the future.
The Board at once telegraphed to the Viceroy to investigate the case and take all necessary precautions, and we are now in receipt of his Excellency's reply, to the following effect
"In this province there is now no boycott movement against Japan, nor is there a Society of the name of National Disgrace Society." The eight men, P'an Lan Yu. Chao Shao P'u, Ch'en Hsueh Ch'nan, Ch'en Hsing Chiao, Men En Isi, Nieh Kuan Yun, Wu Hsien Tzu, and Hsu Chin, who were expelled by the British authorities from Hong Kong, were all old residents of the Colony, and in no way connected with commercial circles in Canton. I am continuing to take every precaution to safeguard to the best of my ability, as in duty bound, the commercial interests of foreign Powers."
In communicating the above reply to your Excellency, I avail, &c.
(Signed) Prince CII'ING.
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