CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909 — Page 486

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Chinese Government had never exercised any act of authority over the islets which form the atoll, occasions have occurred, as in 1882, when the Board of Trade asked the Foreign Office to request the Chinese Government to erect a lighthouse on the reef, on which Chinese sovereignty has been taken for granted.

In 1902 some correspondence took place between the Government of Hong Kong and the Home authorities arising out of an inquiry addressed by the Japanese Consul at Hong Kong as to whether Pratas was claimed by any Power. The Lords of the Admiralty pointed out that the atoll had from time immemorial been frequented by Chinese fishing junks during certain seasons of the year, and was, therefore, probably considered by the Viceroy of Kuangtung to be part of his province, and the officer administering the Hong Kong Government was accordingly instructed to inform the Japanese Consul that, so far as IIis Majesty's Government were aware, the island had never been occupied by any Power, but that, before any action (tending to annexation) was taken by the Japanese Government, it would be desirable to ascertain whether it was claimed by China.

Sir Edward Grey now desires, before taking any steps to protect Messrs. Newman and Wilkinson in their operations to exploit the natural resources of the reef, to be informed whether any measures have been taken since 1902 by the Chinese or Japanese authorities to occupy Pratas, and I shall feel grateful if you will be so good as to afford me such information on the subject as you may be able to obtain and will favour me with such general observations as you may think proper to make.

A similar despatch has been addressed to the Governor [Commander-in-chief] of Hong Kong and His Majesty's Consul-General at Canton and His Majesty's Consul at Swatow.

I have, &c.

(Signed) J. N. JORDAN

Inclosure 2 in No. 1.

Acting Consul-General Fox to Sir J. Jordan.

(No. 47. Confidential.) Sir,

September 17, 1908. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, Confidential, dated the 16th ultimo, on the subject of the ownership of the Pratas Islands in the China Sea.

In reply to a private letter addressed to Taotai Wen Tsung Yao, Secretary to the Canton Viceroy, on the 17th ultimo, I have to-day received a semi-official communica- tion, copy and translation of which I have the honour to inclose, in which it is clearly stated that these islands belong to China.

The Captain of one of the Hong Kong-Canton River steamers who formerly sailed between Hong Kong and Manila, informs me that he knows the Pratas group well. They lie a little to the north-west of the direct course to Manila, but in bad weather ships often pass quite close to them, and he believes small steamers have more than once anchored there during the north-east monsoon. On the main island there is a Chinese joss-house probably erected by the fishermen who frequent the islands, and on one occasion my informant noticed a number of huts, doubtless used by the fishermen for drying their fish. He had always understood the islands were man's land."

I have, &c. (Signed)

(Translation.) Sir,

Inclosure 3 in No. 1.

Taotai Wen Tsung Yao to Acting Consul-General Fox.

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H. H. FOX.

Canton, September 16, 1908.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter in which you ask me to have a search made in the archives of the Viceroy's Yamen, and let you know whether or not the Island of Pratas, situated some 170 miles due south-east of Hong Kong, belongs to China.

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I have found that the Island of Pratas is situated to the south-west of Formosa and to the south-east of Hong Kong, and is a barren sand-bank in the shape of a horseshoe. On the western side there is an inlet which for many years has been used by Chinese fishing craft as a storm anchorage. There is no doubt as to its status as a Chinese island. Some years ago the Viceroy of the Two Kwang sent a Commission to make a survey and chart of the island.

I am informed that recently a certain Japanese visited the locality, and that telegraphic instructions were in consequence received from the Wai-wu Pu to inquire into the case and take such action as might be necessary.

While writing this for your information as to the undoubted Chinese status of the island, I avail, &e.

(Card of Wen Tsung Yao.)

Sir,

Inclosure 4 in No. 1.

Mr. Mayers to Sir R. Alcock.

Canton, June 14, 1869. I HAVE the honour to report to your Excellency that, with the approval of Mr. Consul Robertson at the time of his departure from this port, I requested the Viceroy Jui-lin, about a month ago, to dispatch one of his steam gun-boats, the "Chen-to," to the Prata Shoal, where more than one foreign vessel has lately been wrecked and immediately pillaged by the Junk people, who make this their place of resort.

From a report made by the Commander of the "Chên-to" on his return, I came to the conclusion that to station one or two Chinese junks at the island and lagoon enclosed by the Prata Shoals, for the purpose of preventing the lawless pillage of vessels in distress, is not only highly desirable, but also perfectly feasible; and I therefore addressed the Viceroy on the subject, suggesting that measures of this kind be taken, and referring to the 20th Article of the Treaty of Tien-tsin in support of my recommendation. The reply I received from the Viceroy fully admits the responsibility of the Chinese Government in this matter; but I regret to add that his Excellency proposes merely the usual Chinese method of evading the consequences of this responsibility, viz., the issue of orders to subordinate functionaries, which it must be perfectly well known will not, and cannot, be obeyed. In my reply to the Viceroy's despatch closing the correspondence, I have reminded his Excellency of the necessity for special measures of a very different description from mere formal orders addressed to authorities residing at a distance of from 100 to 200 miles from the spot in question, if any actual steps are to be taken for affording security to life and property at the Pratas, and have hinted to his Excellency that the failure to discharge a duty which he has now plainly recognized, exposes his Government to claims for indemnity for losses that may occur hereafter.

A claim of this kind has indeed given the Viceroy much trouble, special orders having been received last year by the French Consul here from the Imperial Government to exact compensation for a Frenel vessel which was pillaged after being stranded on a shoal to the westward of Macao, and the sum of, I believe, Under pressure the 5,000 dollars was eventually paid in satisfaction of this claim. Viceroy would doubtless take any measures that might be deemed necessary for stationing some authority at the Pratas, and without pressure he will, it is equally I have not, however, thought it certain, prefer to let matters take their course. advisable, without special instructions, to do more than I have already done toward reminding the Viceroy of his duty in this matter, and of the responsibility that rests upon the Chinese Government in respect to shipwrecked vessels.

I inclose herewith, for your Excellency's information, copies of all the despatches forming the correspondence on this subject,

Your, &c. (Signed) WM. FREDK. MAYERS.

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