CO129-381 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [11-12] — Page 356

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the list of these cases that the attached report is chiefly

deficient, for comparatively few are reported to the Police, but

hardly a day goes by without my hearing of one or more fresh

instances.

5.

On the 9th. instant His Excellency the

General Officer Commanding came to consult me in regard to a

positive and emphatic report which had been made to him by an

ex-soldier who had been employed in the Chinese Customs and is

I believe married to a Chinese wife, to the effect that it was

the intention of an anti-foreign gang who loudly declare that

Hongkong should be returned to China, to poison the whole of the

troops on Christmas Day. I learn on enquiry that this report has

circulated among the Chinese, but Mr. C. Clementi informs me

that he is convinced it originated among the European residents

themselves. The General, however, proposes to take certain pre-

-cautions. The animus of the crowds who have assembled on the

occasions referred to is shewn by their shouts of "strike" or

"kill" the Foreigner.

6.

There is I think no occasion for me to

trouble you with any further details of this unfortunate state

of affairs. It will be of more use if I state briefly the causes which in my opinion have given rise to it, and the means

I have adopted to put an end to it.

7.

There is I think no question whatever that

the feeling of hostility is confined to certain of the lower classes, some of whom are riff-raff from Canton. Their heads have

become swollen by the contemplation at a safe distance of the exploits of others in "the emancipation of China from the foreign (Manchu) yoke", and their heads deprived of the queue have become unbalanced. Not only is there no indication whatever that this feeling is in any way shared by respectable Chinese, but on the contrary I have been greatly struck with the loyal way in which the leading Chinese have consulted me, and followed my advice. They are all without exception enthusiastically on the side of the Revolutionaries, and as practically without exception