CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910 — Page 100

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composed of important officials in whom the Prince Regent and the Grand Council had absolute confidence.

I expressed the opinion that, now that means of communication in China were so !! much improved, trade in rice between various parts of the empire should be free from all restriction, and open to foreigner and Chinese alike. It was the innumerablo petty hindrances and fiscal exactions that prevented rice from passing freely from a province where there was plenty to another where persons were starving for want of it, and thus enabled unscrupulous speculators to grow rich at the expense of their poorer neighbours.

Before leaving. I informed his Excellency that I should, I presumed, receive instructions in due course to claim from the Chinese Government an indemnity for all direct losses suffered by British subjects during the outbreak. I have, &c.

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Szechuan and Kansub, asking them to provide relief rice, and thus prevent bad characters from seizing a pretext to stir up trouble.

The following Imperial decree has been issued to-day, viz. :-

"Ts'en Ch'un-ming (the governor) is hereby ordered to quell the disturbance with the utmost energy, and to afford adequate protection. He should at once disperso those who have been led away by the mob. The ringleaders must be arrested and severely punished. There must be no laxity."

We have the honour to transmit copies of the above for your Excellency's information.

We have, &c.

Ministers of the Wai-wu Pu.

W. G. MAX MÜLLER.

Enclosure 3 in No. 1.

Your Highness,

Enclosure 1 in No. 1.

Mr. Max Müller to Wai-wu Pu.

Peking, April 14, 1910. MR. CAMPBELL called at the Wai-wu Pu to-day under instructions from me and communicated the purport of a telegram received from His Majesty's consul at Changsha this morning, to the effect that rioters had burned the Wesleyan Mission to the ground. The Wai-wu Pu were requested to instruct the Governor of Human by telegraph to give due protection to the lives and property of British subjects, and were also informed that the British naval authorities at Shanghae and Hankow had been requested to dispatch a ship to Changsha with all speed.

I shall be glad to be informed of the steps which have been taken by the Chinese Government in connection with this unfortunate occurrence.

I avail, &e.

(Translation.) Sir,

Enclosure 2 in No. 1.

Wai-wu Pu to Mr. Max Müller.

W. G. MAX MÜLLER,

April 15, 1910.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday's date stating that His Majesty's consul at Changsha bad telegraphed that rioters had burnt the Wesleyan Mission to the ground. You therefore requested our board to instruct the Governor of Hunan by telegraph to give due protection to the lives and property of British subjects, and you asked to be informed of the steps which have been taken by the Chinese Government in connection with this unfortunate

occurrence.

After Mr. Campbell's visit yesterday to the board, we telegraphed to the Governor of Hunau for information, and at the same time ordered him to give due protection and quell the disturbance. Just at that time we received a telegram from the governor as follows :---

"On account of the large export of rice to Hupci, the price in Hunan has risen greatly. Bad characters stirred up the poor, and great crowds assembled outside the the south gate of the city and made a great disturbance. Subsequently they entered the city and insisted on buying rice at a low price. I then ordered the civil and military officials to reason with them, and the more respectable people thereupon dispersed. But the bad characters took advantage of the situation to create disturbance and burnt down three missions, the Hsin-i-Hui, the Wesleyan Mission, and the China Inland Mission. Two places of the Wesleyan Mission, and also the British and Japanese consulates have been protected and are intact, while all the foreign missionaries have been escorted to a place of safety. At this moment I am earnestly reasoning with the people, and my intention is to disperse those who have been led away with the mob, and arrest the ringleaders. I have also telegraphed to the Viceroys of

(Translation.)

Sir,

Wai-wu Pu to Mr. Maz Müller.

April 16, 1910. WE have already in a previous letter communicated to you a telegram from the Governor of Hunan with reference to the rioting by the starving people of Changsha. We have now received a further telegram from the governor, dated the 15th April, stating as follows:-

"On the 13th and 14th April bad characters stirred up the poor people, who assembled in crowds and surrounded the governor's yamên. I accordingly gave orders that the granaries should be opened and grain sold at a fair price. I also repeatedly reasoned with the people, and at the same time told off troops to protect the foreigners and the various missions. But the rioters actually dared to rob shops, and by setting fire to oil destroyed two of the principal gates. They further burnt down the missions. Fortunately, the foreigners, both men and women, have all escaped in advance, and have taken steamer to other places. At present trade is proceeding as usual in the markets."

We have the honour to observe that countless rumours are flying about in connection with this matter. This telegram which we have now received from the governor should be regarded as the very latest reliable news. If any further telegrams come in we will communicate them to you. We have the honour to address this letter for your information.

We have, &c.

Ministers of the Wai-wu Pa.

Enclosure 4 in No. 1.

Wai-wu Pu to Mr. Max Müller.

(Translation.) Sir,

April 18, 1910. WE have already communicated to you on the 15th April (N.B.-This is a mistake for the 16th April) a telegram from the Governor of Hunan stating that business was proceeding as usual in Changsha. At 10 PM, on the same day we received a further telegram from the Governor to the following effect:-

After the rioter's had surrounded the governor's yamên, their violence increased, and accordingly I ordered the troops to fire on those in the foreground who were setting fire to the premises, thus causing the mob to retire. At the same time, more- over, another band of rioters had proceeded outside of the north gate and set fire to the missions. Further, the house occupied by the Japanese consul was destroyed, and several schools were burnt down. I had previously told off troops to protect the missions, but owing to the mob using kerosene oil it was impossible to extinguish the flames quickly enough. The soldiers quelling the riot were very severely wounded. To-day five rioters were arrested, and I had them immediately executed. Grain is now

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