CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909 — Page 472

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Your Excellency,

8

Inclosure 7 in No. 1.

Acting Consul-General Fox to Viceroy Chang.

Canton, December 5, 1908. IN my despatch of the 4th instant, informing your Excellency of the conclusion I had come to after a full investigation into the charge against the Portuguese watchman of the steam-ship "Fatshan" of having caused the death of a Chinese passenger, I drew your Excellency's attention to the action of the Canton newspapers in prejudicing the minds of their readers by publishing inaccurate and misleading reports of the proceedings, and requested your Excellency to summon the editors of the offending papers and impose suitable penalties upon them.

I have now the honour to inclose an article published in the "Seventy-two Guilds Press," which contains a gross libel on myself, accusing me of hushing the matter up and giving no consideration to the interests of public justice.

I have the honour to request that the editor of this paper may be severely dealt with, and that the next copy of the paper shall contain a full and ample apology in a conspicuous place in which the libellous statements shall be retracted.

It must be apparent to your Excellency and to responsible officials generally that articles of the kind I complain of must, if left unchallenged, do great harm to international relations and may lead to consequences of the most serious nature.

The assumption of the accused's guilt and the publication of statements prejudicial to a fair and impartial hearing of the case, would, in any European country, entitle the accused to very heavy pecuniary damages.

I have handed your Excelleney's Deputy, Mr. Hsieh, a copy of the depositions taken at the hearing, and they have doubtless already been translated and submitted to your Excellency's inspection.

In view of the misleading statements of the press, whose representatives, although permitted as a favour to attend the hearing, have neglected to publish a true statement of the facts elicited, I consider that it would be advisable, in the public interest, that the whole of the depositions should be made public in a Proclamation issued by your Excellency, and that steps should be taken to prevent any further comment of an unfair and libellous nature in the Canton press.

Your Excellency,

Inclosure 8 in No. 1.

I avail, &c. (For H. H. Fox), (Signed)

"Acting Consul-General Fox to Viceroy Chang.

II. PORTER.

Canton, December 7, 1908. ON the 5th instant I had the honour to draw your Excellency's attention to the exaggerated statements with regard to the "Fatshan" case, which have recently appeared in the Canton newspapers, and I pointed out that utterances of this nature, if allowed to continue, would seriously impair the existing friendly relations between British and Chinese in Canton.

It has now come to my knowledge that the Self-government Society have been holding meetings during the last few days, at which the witnesses for the prosecution were publicly thanked for their action in this case, and the British authorities severely blamed for their conduct of the inquiry. This morning the Society have called a public meeting to again discuss the affair,”

It is hardly necessary for me to point out to your Excellency the serious consequences that are likely to ensue if the Society are permitted to excite the popular mind in this manner.

This

I feel confident that your Excellency will take such steps as may be necessary to restrain the Society from interfering in matters which do not concern them. case has from the beginning been dealt with by the officials concerned, both Chinese and foreign, and the action of the Society's leaders is therefore not only uncalled-for, but is & direct challenge to the authority of your Excellency's Government.

I have, &c. (Signed)

HARRY H. FOX.

9

Inclosure 9 in No, 1.

Acting Consul-General Fox to Viceroy Chang.

Your Excellency,

Canton, December 8, 1.08. DURING the past week I have repeatedly drawn your Excellency's attention to the serious agitation against the British Authorities in connection with the recent inquiry into the death of a Chinese passenger on the steam-ship " Fatshan," which is being directed and encouraged by the Self-government Society and the Chinese newspapers in Canton.

My representations to your Excellency have evidently been without result, for I hear that at a public meeting organized by the Self-government Society yesterday, libellous statements were openly made against myself, and arrangements made to boycott

the steamers.

Such discourteous treatment of the Representative of a friendly Power, who, only a few months ago gave public expression to his sympathy with the people of this province by taking a leading part in the raising of funds for floods relief, must, I am sure, be repugnant to your Excellency's well-known sentiments of justice, and I am confident that your Excellency will take immediate steps to put a stop to these attacks.

I propose to call on your Excellency to-morrow morning at 11 o'clock, or any other hour that will be convenient to you, and personally discuss the present serious state of affairs.

(Translation.)

Inclosure 10 in No. 1.

Viceroy Chang to Acting Consul-General Fox.

(Card of Mr. Fox.)

!!

Sir,

Canton, December 7, 1908. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch with reference Fatshan of to the accusation against a Portuguese watchman on the steam-ship having caused the death of a Chinese passenger. You complained that the newspapers had printed inaccurate and misleading reports, and asked me to punish the editors and take steps to put a stop to these practices.

All the newspapers were represented at the inquiry which was held recently at your Office, and I fear that misunderstandings must have arisen, owing to their ignorance of the English language, or to lack of clearness in the interpreting. I have, however, ordered the Taotai of Constabulary to examine the editors in question, and to deal with them accordingly.

I have also sent copics of the depositions, which were forwarded by you, to the various newspaper

offices for publication.

I avail, &c.

(Seal of Viceroy.)

Inclosure 11 in No. 1.

Notification by the Self-government Association inviting their brethren to make public the Action which is being taken with regard to the Crime on board the night steamer "Futshan."

(Translation.) Gentlemen,

IN the case where a foreigner kicked a Chinese to death on board the steamer "Fatshan," the evidence first and last clearly called for the punishment of the criminal, and the responsibility for the crime falls upon Messrs. Butterfield and Swire's steamer. The British officials cannot be permitted to shirk their duty in this matter. Great Britain and China have hitherto been on friendly terms, and the proper course is for disputes between us to be decided in accordance with international law. Our local authorities are at present engaged giving the case their serious attention.

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