2
but he informs me that his application was ignored, and that the legation archives are painfully incomplete.
605
(Translation.)
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
M. Brederode to Wai-wu Pu.
I have, &c.
J. N. JORDAN,
April 27, 1909. THE Chargé d'Affaires is instructed by his Government to inform the Wai-wu Pu that General Machade has been appointed high commissioner for the delimita- tion of the boundaries of Macao in accordance with the arrangement concluded at Lisbon on the 8th February, and that in his letter of instructions the commissioner's powers are defined in accordance with the terms of that agreement. They presume that the instructions issued to the Chinese high commissioner will define his powers in a similar manner, and suggest that it would be desirable that the two commissioners should communicate their letters of instruction, to each other with a view to avoiding any misunderstanding.
The Chargé d'Affaires requests that the board will inform him what powers are assigned to the Chinese commissioner in accordance with the arrangement of the 8th February.
He also informs the board that the Portuguese high commissioner has been directed to proceed to Hong Kong at once.
(Translation.)
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
M. Brederode to Wai-wu Pu.
April 28, 1909. THE Chargé d'Affaires expresses his surprise at the attitude of the Viceroy at Canton in permitting the formation of societies which have for their object to arouse popular feeling against the Portuguese, and this attitude is all the more remarkable in view of the fact that the two Governments have come to a satisfactory arrange- ment about the question. The Portuguese Government is greatly surprised and displeased at what has taken place, and the Chargé d'Affaires requests that immediate instructions may be sent to the Viceroy that he must not permit people to form these societies which arouse popular feeling against Portugal, and tend to hinder an amicable settlement of the boundary question. He further requests that steps be taken to prevent the publication of anti-Portuguese articles in Chinese newspapers.
(Translation.)
Inclosure 3 in No. 1.
Prince Ching to M. Brederode.
April 30, 1909.
THE board acknowledge the receipt of the Chargé d'Affaires' note of the 28th April, wherein he had requested the prohibition of anti-Portuguese societies and meetings in Kwangtung, They state that they have heard nothing of any anti-Portuguese movement among the people of Kwangtung, but are informed that an association, called "The Society for the Investigation of the Boundaries of Macao," has recently been formed among the people residing in the neighbourhood of Macao. The object of this society is merely to study the history of the locality and enquire into matters which are of general utility. As the society is established solely for purposes of study, and not with the object of arousing feeling against Portugal, it is obvious that the Viceroy has no reason for suppressing it. Furthermore, so far from obstructing an amicable settlement of the boundary question, it will, on the contrary, be of considerable assistance.
The board have again telegraphed to the Viceroy that if the society endeavours to excite popular feeling against Portugal, or if anti-Portuguese articles are published in the newspapers, he should at once send officers to probibit such proceedings.
1
(Translation.)
Inclosure 4 in No. 1.
Wai-wu Pu to M. Brederode.
May 7, 1909. ON the 28th April the board received a note from the Chargé d'Affaires complaining of anti-Portuguese societies in Kwangtung, and at once telegraphed to the Viceroy for information. On the 4th May they received a further note wherein the Chargé d'Affaires stated that his Government were informed that the Self-government Society were preparing for a raid on Macao; that the Portuguese naval authorities wished to recall a cruiser to Macao, but that the Secretary of State had declined to sanction this step for the present, and the Chinese Government were urged to take steps to prevent any such attack being made.
In reply to further enquiries addressed to the Viceroy, his Excellency has replied that the Cantonese societies were formed merely for the purpose of investigating the boundary question, and that the newspapers only published discussions on this subject, and did not attempt to stir up feeling against Portugal. He further stated that the Portuguese newspapers frequently published anti-Chinese articles which the Portuguese Government had made no attempt to suppress. The repeated cases of ill-treatment of Chinese at Macao had naturally aroused resentment, and the Cantonese were anxious that the boundary question should be settled without delay; but in discussing the question they had done nothing illegal, and the Viceroy could not compel them to refrain from doing so, but he had given orders for precautions to be taken. The members of the Self-government Society were respectable merchants, and there was no danger of any raid on Macao. The Portuguese at Macao, however, had been holding meetings, at which anti-Chinese speeches had been made, and they were proposing to recall their cruiser to Macao with the object of having recourse to force. The Viceroy requests that the Portuguese Chargé d'Affaires be asked to telegraph instructions to the governor of Macao to keep his nationals in order and prohibit the holding of anti-Chinese meetings.
The board state that it appears from the above telegrams that the rumours about an attack upon the Portuguese at Macao are mere inventions of the Macaoese, that the Viceroy has taken all necessary precautions, and that the Cantonese are quite well disposed. They state further that the attacks on China, which are being made in public meetings and in Portuguese newspapers at Macao, are calculated to arouse public indignation, and seriously hinder the settlement of the frontier question. They request therefore that instructions be sent by the Portuguese Government to the governor of Macao to take stringent measures to put a stop to these anti-Chinese meetings and newspaper articles. They are pleased to hear that the proposal to recall the cruiser has been vetoed by the Secretary of State.
(Translation.)
(Telegraphic.)
Inclosure 5 in No. 1.
Viceroy of Canton to Wai-wu Pu.
February 13, 1909.
IT has already been decided to withdraw a military post originally established
within the customs barrier.
Inclosure 6 in No. 1.
Acting Consul-General Porter to Sir J. Jordan.
(No. 47.) Sir,
Canton, April 27, 1909. I ILAVE the honour to report the arrival in Canton on the 21st instant of Taotai Kao Erh Chien, the Chinese commissioner for the delimitation of the boundary of Macao.
Taotai Kao, who arrived in the new light draught gun-boat "Kiang Ta," was met at the Government landing-stage by a deputation from the Society for the Protection of Boundary Rights.
His stay in Canton will be short, as the negotiations will take place in Hong
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.