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(No. 62.) Sir,
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Acting Consul-General Fox to Sir J. Jordan.
Canton, November 14, 1908. I HAVE the honour to forward herewith copy of a despatch which I bave to-day addressed to the Governor of Hong Kong on the subject of the present state of the Japanese boycott.
(No. 146.) Sir,
I have, &c. (Signed)
HARRY H. FOX.
Inclosure 3 in No. 1.
Acting Consul-General Fox to Governor Sir F. Lugard.
Canton, November 14, 1908.
I HAVE the honour to transmit to your Excellency copy and translation of a despatch which I received this morning from the Viceroy of the Liang Kwang in reply to a letter of mine, dated the 7th instant, in which I communicated the substance of
your Excellency's despatch No. 145, on the subject of the boycott of the goods of Japanese dealers in Hong Kong.
Your Excellency will observe that the Viceroy denies the existence of a "National Disgrace Society" in Canton, and, from information which I have received from Chinese sources and the Japanese Consul, I have reason to believe that this Society does, in name, no longer exist.
Its functions would, however, appear to have been taken over by the notorious Self-Government Society of Canton, a body which, under the cloak of the movement towards constitutional reform and the enlightenment of the Chinese people, carries on active propaganda against foreign interests and enterprise in China, and which undoubtedly exercises a powerful influence over the Cantonese both in China and in all British Colonies where Cantonese are to be found.
Your Excellency will doubtless have noticed in recent issues of the Hong Kong papers paragraphs reporting meetings of the Society and communications issued to the Chinese press deprecating the recent rioting in Hong Kong, and exhorting the Cantonese to keep the peace and abstain from anti-Japanese demonstrations.
The translation of an article in the Chinese newspaper, " An Ya Pao," which I have the honour to inclose, furnishes a striking example of the methods adopted by the Society so attain this end.
The Japanese Consul in Canton informs me that he believes a large majority of the Cantonese are opposed to the continuance of the boycott, and he is convinced that the late disturbances in Hong Kong were instigated and arranged by emissaries of the Self-Government Society, with the object of reviving and strengthening the boycott movement.
He states that, since the riots, the import of Japanese goods into Canton has entirely ceased, and that the Compradores of Chinese dealers in the city are daily receiving threatening letters warning them against handling Japanese goods.
The Consul credits the Viceroy with a just appreciation of the gravity of the situation and a sincere desire to suppress the boycott, but he is afraid the Viceroy is powerless to arrest a movement which is actively supported by such an influential body as the Self-Government Society, and which has the sympathy of more than one of the high officials in Canton.
The Consul's opinion of the Viceroy's good intentions is confirmed by the wording of a Proclamation issued on the 14th instant, translation of which I have the honour to inclose.
I have, &c. (Signed) HARRY H. FOX.
Inclosure 4 in No. 1.
Viceroy Chang to Acting Consul-General Fox,
(Translation.) Sir,
Canton, November 14, 1908. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 7th instant, with reference to the boycott of Japanese goods in Hong Kong, which resulted in the destruction of much property and in loss of life. You state that, according to the police report, the rioters were sent to Hong Kong for the purpose by the "National Disgrace Society," and that the Governor of Hong Kong, while taking drastic measures to suppress the boycott, requests that I will co-operate in taking similar steps, and give instructions for the arrest of the instigators.
I would observe that there is at present in Canton no Society of the name of the "National Disgrace Society," and that I have no information of the instigators of the outrage having come from Canton. On hearing, however, last month that certain persons at Hong Kong had conspired together, and were committing assaults, and were cutting off ears, I gave secret instructions to the Taotai of Police and the local, civil, and military officials to take drastic precautionary measures. The result of this was that good order was preserved, and there was nowhere any disturbance of trade.
It is my desire to preserve order in my jurisdiction and to protect the commerce of neighbouring Governments, and, anxious as I have always been to co-operate with the Governor of Hong Kong in the most cordial manner, I feel, after the receipt of your despatch, that it is still more incumbent on me to take all possible preventive
measures.
I have accordingly again instructed the Taotai of Police and the officials in the above sense, and I would ask you to be so good as to communicate this fact to the Governor of Hong Kong.
I avail, &c.
Inclosure 5 in No. 1.
(Seal of Viceroy.)
Extract from the "An Ya Pao" of November 6, 1908.
CIRCULAR NOTICE BY THE SELF-GOVERNMENT SOCIETY.
(Translation.)
WE have frequently observed in the native press that since the 9th moon (September-October), Chinese feeling in Hong Kong and other foreign ports has been roused to a high pitch of exasperation and that ears have been cut off and fighting has occurred. It was stated yesterday in the foreign press that false rumours had spread to the effect that the Japanese had received numerous orders for goods from the Southern provinces, and that the Japanese had exultingly been making lanterns in the shape of fishes and animals without tails, besides several tens of thousands of Japanese lanterns to use in street processions. On these was written in large characters "China defeated." The Hong Kong Chinese in consequence had, it was stated, become greatly excited, and had looted and destroyed Japanese goods.
Now, the progress made by our country during the last few years has been very rapid and on the most enlightened lines. This is generally recognized both in China and abroad. Even, therefore, if the statements of the foreign newspapers had been true, we should merely have put up with the insult and borne our burden with untiring steadfastness. We certainly ought not to have allowed ourselves to become At the present time, excited and given cause for our nation being called uncivilized. Hong Kong has been restored to order and all are behaving peaceably, but we hear that the turbulent ruffians who were responsible have left Iong Kong, and that it will not be difficult for them to collect at Canton and start further disorderly riots.
All patriots should, therefore, do their utmost to prevent this.
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