CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910 — Page 187

was raised against the governor for a grievance which he was powerless to rectify. It has been a life-and-death struggle, arising by the people's objecting to be reduced to starvation.

The primary cause of the Hunan riot, therefore, was the scarcity of rice, and the scarcity of rice in that province was the actual consequence of the excessive export of that grain. But for the protest of foreign consuls on behalf of their merchants there would not have been any exportation of rice from Changsha, and a scarcity would have been averted. Hence it is almost unnecessary to state that the riot was the approximate consequence of the foreign protest and the excessive export of rice from

Hunan.

Had the Hunan governor been given a free hand in the affair, there would have been no immediate scarcity of rice, hence no riot. The forethought and the firmness of Governor Tsen in the affair of the prohibition of rice export is certainly commendable. The activity of the said high official in giving prompt protection to the life of foreigners can certainly not be gainsaid, considering that not a single foreigner was killed or wounded by the rioters. As to the foreigners' property destroyed during the riot, we have already pointed out that many buildings of the Imperial Government had suffered the same fate. The question of negligence, therefore, has no application whatever in this case.

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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.

AFFAIRS OF CHINA.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[19175)

185

C-0

18595

[May 30 DEC

.D

REG 18 JUN 10,

SECTION 3.

No. 1.

Mr. Max Müller to Sir Edward Grey-(Received May 30.)

(No. 150.) Sir,

Peking, May 11, 1910. I HAVE the honour to transmit herewith a copy of a despatch from His Majesty's consul at Nanking, urging the desirability of stationing a foreign cruiser at Nanking during the exhibition which is to open there on the 5th proximo. Mr. Goffe informed me that he had communicated a copy of this despatch to the commander-in-chief of the China squadron.

I had a few days previously received through a member of the Wai-wu Pu a message from the Viceroy of Nanking to the effect that the presence of foreign war-ships there was not necessary, and that he would be personally responsible for the protection of foreign lives and property.

I accordingly telegraphed to Mr. Goffe, informing him that I had received this assurance on the part of the Viceroy, and that I was opposed to interfering except in case of actual necessity with the movements of His Majesty's ships, and enquiring whether he still considered the presence of a British ship necessary. To this Mr. Goffe replied that he considered the presence of a cruiser necessary throughout the month of June, after which one could see how matters were shaping. He added that the prospects of the rice harvest are at present bad, owing to heavy rains and flooded rivers, and that the situation would depend greatly on how the harvest turned out.

I have accordingly informed Admiral Winsloe by telegraph of Mr. Goffe's request, but have for the present contented myself with suggesting that, as at this distance it is difficult for me to form a definite opinion as to the urgency of stationing a cruiser at Nanking, the senior naval officer at Shanghae should be instructed to keep in com- munication with His Majesty's consul, and should be prepared to send a ship to Nanking immediately, should the necessity arise. I have confirmed this suggestion in a despatch, copy of which I have the honour to enclose.

I hope that my action will meet with your approval.

I have, &c.

W. G. MAX MÜLLER.

P.S.--Since writing the above I have received a telegram from Vice-Admiral Winsloe, in which he states that he will send a ship to Nanking for the opening of the exhibition, and will keep her there for a few days.

Enclosure 1 in No. 1.

W. G. M. M.

(No. 27.) Sir,

Consul Goffe to Mr. Max Müller.

Nanking, April 28, 1910. IN view of the present distress and consequent unrest prevailing in these parts, the influx of large numbers of visitors to the exhibition, accompanied, as it will be, by a rise in the price of all commodities, is a matter of serious concern to the foreign residents in Nanking. It is no secret that the authorities regard the situation with considerable anxiety, and place no reliance on the foreign-drilled troops; only yesterday an official informed me that the Viceroy was making arrangements to have cruisers in port throughout the summer, and was also bringing over from Pukow three more camps of northern troops, Hsin Fang Tui, making six in the city altogether. Conflicts between the military and the police and between the police and the people are only too likely to occur, in which case the lives and property of foreigners would be in considerable danger.

Under these circumstances it is, I think, highly desirable that a foreign cruiser, capable, on emergency, of landing a considerable force for the protection of the foreign community, should be continuously in port throughout the period of the

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