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the great delay to works, I feel that you should be fully advised of what is happening. We have won through many troubles, and generally the progress of the works, with the exception of No. 2 district, may be taken as satisfactory.
Inclosure 3 in No. 1.
F. G.
赛
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I am sure that when your Excellency learns the true facts regarding the difficulties now being experienced in the construction of the line, and the dangers to which the engineers and staff, both Chinese and British, are exposed, you will mete out exemplary punishment to those who are responsible for this regrettable state of affairs, and give stringent orders for the efficient protection of the undertaking in the future.
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I have, &c.
HARRY H. FOX.
Your Excellency,
Acting Consul-General Fox to Viceroy Chang.
Canton, July 8, 1909 I YESTERDAY received a report from Mr. F. Grove, engineer-in-chief of the Canton-Kowloon Railway (Chinese section), stating that as a result of false rumours concerning the actions of the railway engineers employed in the construction of the line in the Tseng Cheng and Tung Kuan districts the country people had lately assumed an attitude of violent hostility to the railway and to those engaged in its construction, in many cases preventing by force the continuation of the work, destroying bridge founda- tions with dynamite, attacking the engineers' quarters, and even going so far as to murder one of the railway company's Chinese servants.
The local officials, whose duty it was to afford the constructional staff adequate protection, had done little or nothing to dispel these rumours, punish the guilty parties, and quieten the people, with the result that matters had now reached such à critical stage that work was practically suspended on section 2, in the neighbourhood of Shektau and Suichuan (Shaka), and the British engineers in charge of this district had refused to continue their construction work until they were afforded proper protection by the local authorities.
In a report from one of the district engineers, Mr. Boothby, it was stated that a foreman named Tsi Chen Ch'i, a native of Shantung, had been brutally murdered by the villagers of Shektan on the 8th June, on a ridiculous accusation of stealing young children to lay in the foundations of railway bridges.
Later on, in the fifth moon, a Japanese was murdered near Shekha, his assailants believing him to be an employé of the railway.
The engineer-in-chief states that, unless his staff receive proper protection, they will certainly resign their posts, and work on this portion of the line must entirely cease. He has already reported this matter in detail to the director-general of the railway in Peking, and the British and Chinese Corporation, and he is now obliged to ask me to bring these facts to the Viceroy's notice, and request his Excellency to afford proper protection to these British engineers.
I have the honour to observe that the Canton-Kowloon Railway (Chinese section) is a Chinese undertaking, under Imperial sanction, in course of construction under Chinese official direction. It is obviously the duty of the local authorities to assist such an undertaking to the best of their ability, and to lose no opportunity of affording the engineers and construction staff protection, If they do not, they incur the grave responsibility of disobeying the Imperial commands.
Again, it is the duty of the local authorities to preserve order in their districts. Officials who permit crimes to go unpunished are, by the laws of China, dismissed from their posts and degraded.
Again, by treaty the interests of foreigners in China engaged in lawful occupations, such as the building of a railway, are placed under the special protection of the Chinese authorities. If these neglect their duty in this respect, and foreigners are subjected to insult and hurt, regrettable international complications must inevitably ensue.
In the case of the recent disturbances on the Canton-Kowloon Railway, the magistrates of Tseng Ch'eng and Tung Kuan have apparently failed in their duty in these three respects.
Firstly, they have not rendered loyal assistance to an important Chinese under- taking; secondly, they have signally failed to maintain order within their jurisdiction ; thirdly, they have not afforded British subjects proper protection.
It is difficult to see how they can escape severe censure when these facts become known.
During your Excellency's administration lawlessness has been put down with a firm hand, encouragement has been given to the industrial development of the province, and the improvement of communications by means of railways has made steady progress. Your Excellency has shown your interest in the Canton-Kowloon Railway in particular, by presiding at the laying of the foundation of the Canton terminus in March last.
Sir,
Inclosure 4 in No. 1.
Viceroy Chang to Acting Consul-General Foz.
Canton, July 10, 1909. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch stating that the villagers of Tung Kun and Tseng Ch'eng were spreading false reports regarding the Canton-Kowloon Railway, and requesting that efficient measures might be taken for the protection of the railway and its employés.
I have accordingly requested Admiral Li Chun to at once dispatch a force of soldiers to maintain order, and I have also issued strict instructions to the local officials to protect the railway and its staff.
I avail, &c.
Inclosure 3 in No. 1.
(Seal of Viceroy)
Mr. F. Grove to Messrs. Jardine, Matheson, and Co.
Dear Sirs,
Canton, July 5, 1909. WITH reference to my letter dated the 26th May, 1909, and subsequent correspondence, in which you advised me that copies of this letter and enclosures would be duly forwarded to His Britannic Majesty's Minister at Peking and to Mr. Bland, and at the same time stated that, in view of the remedial measures then undertaken by the Viceroy in consultation with the managing director, you held the opinion that official application for the help of the Minister was not at the time advisable, I now forward copies of the following correspondence, which sets out the present condition of affairs:-
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1. Engineer-in-chief's letter, dated the 30th June, 1909, to the managing director, enclosing Mr. Boothby's letter, dated the 28th June, 1909, to engineer-in-chief, with enclosure; also Mr. Boothby's letter, dated the 29th June, 1909, and enclosure, dated the 25th June, 1909.
2. Extract of a report from Lieutenant J. White, R.N., of His Majesty's ship Robin," to the commander-in-chief, China Coast Squadron.
3. Engineer-in-chief's letter, dated the 23rd June, 1909, to the managing director, enclosing Mr. Boothby's letter, dated the 19th June, 1909, to the engineer-in-chief.
4. Engineer-in-chief's letter, dated the 14th June, 1909, to the managing director, enclosing Mr. Boothby's letter, dated the 12th June, 1909, to the engineer-in-chief.
From the above correspondence it is plain to see that while at Namseh the condition of affairs has for the present taken a better aspect, at Shektan, Yuen Chow, Shek Ha, and Sin Chuen River affairs remain in the same condition, which may be described as dangerous to our foreign staff and absolutely preventing progress of works.
It was apparent to me that the appointment of deputies without magisterial powers and some display of force could not be looked upon as appreciably ameliorating the condition of affairs.
At Namseb some good has resulted certainly, and I do not disparage it, but I can only doubt its continuance. With regard to Shektan-Sin Chuen bridge, &c., the conditions are impossible, and Mr. Boothby acted quite rightly in stopping the work. When it is remembered that our works at those places are nine months delayed, and, so far as I can judge, adding greatly to cost of works and length of time required for completion of the whole railway, I can only again express the opinion that the time has arrived for His Britannic Majesty's Minister to be directly appealed to under the terms of the loan agreement.
The most serious aspect of affairs is that on No. 2 district. Mr. Boothby and his
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