[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[August 2.].
SECTION 2
2.913
6
[27861]
No. 1.
Mr. Max Müller to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received August 2.)
(No. 220.) Sir,
REC2 REGE 8 SEP 10.
Peking, July 15, 1910. WITH reference to my despatch No. 175 of the 1st ultimo, in which I reported on the subject of anti-foreign agitation at angehow and other places, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith the copy of a despatch from His Majesty's consul at Hangchow, dated Shanghai, the 22nd June,* in which he now states that the move- ment, far from abating, has received official encouragement, and has become general in the city. Meetings of the gentry were held at which regulations were drawn up
to govern the renting of property by foreigners, and, although they clearly constitute an unwarrantable interference with the rights of foreigners in the treaty ports, they received the approval of the local authorities, and were forwarded by the governor to Mr. Savage, with a request that he would communicate them to the missions and enforce them.
In view of the progress of the agitation, a meeting of American and British missionaries was held at Hangchow on the 17th June under the presidency of Bishop Moule. The views of the missionaries are embodied in their letter, of which a copy is also enclosed,† to Mr. Savage and to Mr. Wilder, American consul-general at Shanghai, and, in Mr. Savage's opinion, represent a by no means exaggerated account of the situation. On receipt of this letter, Mr. Savage very properly addressed a strong telegram to the Governor of Chekiang, the text of which is also enclosed in this despatch.f
A few days later Mr. Savage received scurrilous and threatening anonymous letter claiming triumphantly that the Japanese had been forcibly expelled from Chekiang, and inveighing violently against foreigners in general.
I therefore caused a memorandum (copy enclosed) to be drawn up, and in handing it to the Wai-wu Pu on the 11th instant, I also communicated to them a Chinese translation of the anonymous letter referred to above. I further enlarged verbally upon the situation at Hangchow, and said that if it were allowed to continue unchecked, it might lead to consequences of a serious nature. The board promised to telegraph to the Governor of Chekiang to suppress the agitation.
My Japanese and American colleagues are also making representations on the subject.
I have, &c.
W. G. MAX MÜLLER.
Enclosure in No. 1.
Memorandum communicated to the Wai-wu Pu by Mr. Max Müller.
ON the 7th May the attention of the Wai-wn Pu was drawn to the anti-foreign agitation in the city of Hangchow. Printed handbills prohibiting the lease of premises to all foreigners were being circulated, and in one case it was threatened that if the magistrate did not agree to confiscate premises which had been leased to a missionary the shops would be closed.
In informing the Wai-wu Pu, the illegality of interference with the right of foreigners to lease premises in Hangchow was pointed out, and a request made that the Governor of Chekiang should be instructed to take all possible measures to prevent the outbreak of anti-foreign disturbances.
Mr. Max Müller is now in receipt of a report from His Majesty's consul, which states that the agitation has received official encouragement and the support of the gentry, and has become general. Meetings of the gentry and prominent residents
† Not printed.
* Mr. Savage, June 22, 1910 (not printed). [2802 6-2]
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