CO129-416 - Public Offices - 1914 — Page 258

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field in support of the rebel cause. It is, however, rumoured to-day that Kuangtung is sending troops north to assist in the attack on the Central Government.

There is no indication whatever that the revolt in the south has any anti-foreign tendencies, nor has any information reached me so far of any attempt on British life or property.

I have the honour to enclose herewith translation of a memorandum which has been addressed by the Wai-chiao Pu to all the foreign Ministers in explanation of the attitude adopted by the Central Government towards the present crisis.

I have, &c.

B. ALSTON.

Enclosure in No. 107.

Memorandum communicated to Mr. Alston by the Wai-chiao Pu.

FROM the establishment of the Republic the Provisional Government has for s year past devoted itself unceasingly to the restoration of order and the promotion of union, on which depend the peace and existence of the State. Foreign Governments have continued the transaction of international business with this Government without interruption, and commercial and financial business has steadily increased. Although sincerely desirous to discharge punctually obligations in respect of foreign indemnities and loans until order has been completely restored throughout the whole country, financial expansion is impossible, and a return to normal conditious cannot be

Becured.

The Government has gone deeply into this matter, and has accordingly spared no effort to promote progress in the direction indicated, but the conviction has been reached that as long as order is lacking union is impeded, and the disbandment of unnecessary troops, the unification of the currency, and the arrangement of the finances can none of them be proceeded with.

This state of affairs cannot but have an adverse effect on foreign trade, so that both the law-abiding Chinese and the friendly Powers have alike cause for complaint.

Recently there has been a divergence of view amongst the officials in the south, where, though patriots are not lacking, there are also those who use force for their own ends and rejoice in the ills of others. In the case of these latter, the Government cannot but consider means of removing them in order that the localities in question may obtain good officials and that the State may be benefited.

Unfortunately rebels have made a pretext of these measures for creating disturbance, and have resorted to arms, treating as enemies the forces of the officiating Tutu stationed in their own province, and regarding as an alien power a Government acknowledged by the whole country; they have led troops to oppose the loyal and destroy the Republic, thus exposing once again to dire hardships the populace only just recovered from the terrors of war, and they have incurred the hatred of the merchant classes whose business has been thrown into confusion.

war,

The Government has despatched troops to the south, and these isolated disturbances should not prove difficult of suppression; at the same time cherishing humane desires and aiming at a friendly solution, it is anxious to spare the localities the ravages of

if only this internal disorder may soon be put down and trade be restored. The members of the National Assembly and the Chambers of Commerce of the various provinces have demanded that the rebellion be immediately suppressed, and the Government, in face of this popular mandate, cannot but proceed to take all necessary steps to this end.

The above represents the attitude which the Government has, to its regret, been forced to adopt towards this internal disturbance, and as the Powers, in view of the increasingly friendly relations, will doubtless be concerned at these events, the Wai- chiao Pu has the honour to communicate this exposition of the actual circumstances.

(Seal of the Minister for Foreign Affairs.)

July 20, 1913.

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