18
2
Nevertheless the Japanese continued their work during the night, and on the next day (the 11th October) they assaulted some Chinese police and broke the sword carried by the Chinese police sergeant, Lo Ka Shan. Moreover, the Japanese lieutenant ordered their gendarmes to load their rifles and dig a rectangled ditch, ready to fight. Seeing these movements, the Chinese official gave his men the order to
retreat.
The
On the 18th (the 12th October) a Chinese corporal, Yi Tong Da, with some gendarmes and police, carrying no arms, went to the Mow Kun village, the police being transported in two waggons in the front and the gendarmes marching in the rear. On the arrival at the scene, just dismounting from their waggons, they were suddenly fired upon by the Japanese from both sides before they could have a chance to communicate their intention of amicable settlement on the basis of right. lamentable result was that Chinese police officer Shu received a fatal wound in his stomach and expired in the night; Chinese police sergeant Chen received wounds at three places; police Wu was shot dead on the spot; gendarmes Liu and Mun and cavalry sergeant Liu and two horses also wounded, the Chinese having succeeded in seizing a rifle used by a Japanese soldier in this trouble.
It is said that the Chinese Government is now in communication with the Japanese Government, demanding an adequate indemnity and due punishment of those concerned in this trouble.
October 26, 1908.
(This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government 0.
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[43329]
(No. 487.)
Sir,
No. 1.
1188 [December 12.]
SECTION 6!! JAN 09
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey--(Received December 12.)
Peking, October 27, 1908. WITH reference to Sir Claude MacDonald's despatch No. 263 of the 4th instant, copy of which has been forwarded to me direct from Tôkiô, and in confirmation of my telegram No. 167 of the 24th instant, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a Memorandum which I have received from the Wai-wu Pu informning me that the Board had addressed a communication to the Russian Minister notifying him of the signature of the Manchurian Telegraph Agreement with Japan. They had at the same time pointed out that the question of the cancellation of the Russo-Chinese Agreement, which, as reported in my despatch No. 589 of the 23rd December, 1907, had been threatened by the late M. Pokotilow in the event of the failure of the Chinese and Japanese negotiators to come to terms within a year, did not now call for further consideration.
The Ministers, who conveyed to me their thanks for the assistance which His Majesty's Government had afforded them towards the solution of this difficult problem, expressed a doubt whether the consent of the Russian Government would not have to be purchased by further concessions, in view of the fact that the terms of the Agreement with Japan were in some respects more favourable than those which had been accorded to Russia.
M. Korostovetz, the Russian Minister, whom I sounded on the subject a few days ago, told me that he was waiting for a copy of the full text of the Agreement concluded with Japan before returning an answer to the Chinese Government.
Inclosure in No. 1.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
Memorandum communicated by the Wai-u Pu to Sir J. Jordon, October 23, 1908.
(Translation.)
ON the 13th October the Wai-wu Pu received a communication from the Yu- ch'uan Pu informing them that Taotai Chou Wan-p'eng, the officer deputed to negotiate and conclude with the Japanese Government the South Manchurian Telegraph Convention between China and Japan, had reported by telegraph that the main outline of this Agreement had been signed on the previous day. The Wai-wu Pu have addressed a note to the Russian Minister, M. Korostovetz, pointing out that the statement contained in M. Pokotilow's note of the 11th month of last Chinese year, that in the event of the Chinese Government being unable to conclude a Telegraphi Convention with Japan within a year the Telegraphi Convention between China and Russia would forthwith become null and void, need not be discussed.
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