306
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subscriptions for funds for Sun Wen. You, inhabitants of Hong Kong, should know that these kinds of contribution and lending are not public loans of a proper nature, and will eventually become null and void. Moreover, as the Government set up by Sun Wen is in extreme poverty, and will fall in no time, repayment of the loans can hardly be expected. This notification is therefore issued for the information of the public so that they may not be deceived to their sorrow. You, inhabitants, are hereby notified.
May 6, 1921.
(No. 40.) Sir,
Enclosure 4 in No. 1.
Consul-General Jamieson to Sir R. E. Stubbs.
Canton, May 14, 1921. HAVING reference to His Majesty's vice-consul's memorandum No. 92 of the 9th May and to my despatches Nos. 87 and 38 transmitting copies of reports made to His Majesty's Minister, with regard to an outburst of anti-British feeling on the part of the local populace as the result of the wording of certain notifications, said to have been issued by the Secretary for Chinese Affairs in connection with the inauguration of Sun Yat Sen as President of the Republic, I have now the honour to forward to your Excellency translation of a communication, calling for an explanation of this alleged lack of courtesy, which has been addressed to me by the Secretary of the Bureau for. Foreign Affairs.
(Copy to Peking.)
3
interview, in the course of which he stated that "in view of the benevolent neutrality observed by the Hong Kong Government in the course of General Chen Chiung-ming's operations last year," he was anxious to ascertain on what grounds this attitude had recently undergone a change. In support of this allegation, he cited the two proclama- tions, transmitted in my despatch Na 38 of the 13th May, the unfriendly comments of the foreign newspapers and the prevalence of rumours and guesses appearing therein, with regard to your Excellency's visit to Peking, which must be based on some solid foundation.
I replied that I was not aware of any change in the attitude of your Excellency's Government, that I was completely ignorant of the objects of your Excellency's journey, and that, in so far as I was aware, the policy of His Majesty's Government towards the Southern party had in no way been modified. But, I added, that since the advent of the latter to power, I had found relations between this office and the Bureau for Foreign Affairs far from satisfactory, as the latter apparently adopted foolishly obstructive tactice, and ignorance on the part of the various departments caused vexatious delay. Moreover, that the complete repudiation of the Cassel Agreement and the arbitrary confiscation by the Civil Governor of property belonging to British subjects and others, merely because they were friendly with the old régime, had created an unfavourable impression. The conversation, which lasted for an hour and a half, was inconclusive, but we parted on quite friendly terms
The unfortunate wording of the Chinese text of the leaflets, said to have been issued by the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, has caused the sympathy of many Chinese, hitherto antagonistic or indifferent, to veer round to the Kuo-min Tang.
(Copy to Peking.)
Enclosure 5 in No. 1.
I have, &c.
J. W. JAMIESON.
I have, &c.
J. W. JAMIESON
Enclosure 7 in No. 1.
Commissioner for Foreign Affairs to Consul-General Jamieson.
(Translation.) Sir,
Canton, May 13, 1921. I HAVE the honour to inform you that I am in receipt of written instructions from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs to lodge a protest with the British consul-general at Canton regarding two printed proclamations which the Ministry has obtained and which purport to have been issued by the Secretary for Chinese Affairs at Hong Kong, The first proclamation prohibits Chinese subjects in the colony from celebrating the establishment of the legal Government of the Chinese Republic, and the second forbids the collection in Hong Kong of funds for the President. The Ministry states that the phraseology of the proclamations is most improper in that it is not only insulting and slanderous towards the President aud the Government, but it is such as is rarely seen in the history of diplomatic relations.
I am of the opinion that discourteous language of this nature towards my Government appearing in correspondence or proclamations cannot fail to prejudice the friendly relations which have hitherto existed between Great Britain and China. In accordance with the instructions of my Government, I have the honour to transmit" herewith copies of the two printed documents with the earnest request that
will forward them to the Governor of Hong Kong and ask for an explanation, and request him to ascertain whether or not the Secretary for Chinese Affairs at Hong Kong did issue notices of this description, and if so, what was the wording of the original text, and in reply to send copies of the text for my information and consideration.
you
Consul-General Jamieson to Sir B. Alston.
(No. 40.) Sir,
HAVING reference to your telegram No. 28 of the 23rd May and to my reply
Canton, May 26, 1921. thereto, telegram No. 32 of the 24th May, on the subject of notifications recently issued by the Hong Kong Government, I have the honour to enclose herewith copy of a despatch addressed to me by his Excellency the Governor, dated the 20th May- received on the 22nd May-together with copy of a communication based thereon, sent to the Bureau for Foreign Affairs on the 23rd May. (Apart from this communication, I wrote immediately on receipt of the despatch--Sunday morning-a personal letter to Mr. C. C. Wu, conveying to him tenor thereof.) I also enclose extracts from the "Canton Times ** and the local Chinese press of the 24th instant, evidently dictated by the Ministry or the Bureau for Foreign Affairs, and copy of a letter from Mr. Wu, in reply to nine of the 22nd, which I have left unanswered. He is quite correct in his statement that the rumours regarding the objects of his Excellency the Governor's visit to Peking originally started in certain English newspapers in the colony, whence they were taken by the "Canton Times" and other local Chinese papers, and in his protest against the principles underlying the notifications he is supported by the "China Mail,"
Hong Kong evening newspaper.
Â
I also enclose, for purposes of record, copy of a despatch, which I had occasion to address to the Civil Governor, with regard to an attempt to start a boycott, now abandoned.
(Copy to Hong Kong.)
I avail, &c.
(Seal)
LI CHIN LUN.
Enclosure 6 in No. 1.
Consul-General Jamieson to Sir R. E. Stubbs.
(No. 44.) Sir,
(No. 23.) Sir,
I HAVE the honour to inform your Excellency that Mr. C. C. Wu, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs in Sun Yat Sen's Government, asked me yesterday for a
Canton, May 17, 1921.
private
• Not printed.
I have, &c.
J. W. JAMIESON.
Enclosure 8 in No. 1.
Sir R. E. Stubbs to Consul-General Jamieson.
Hong Kong, May 20, 1921. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 40 of the 14th May, and to transmit to you copies and translations of the two notifications to which exception has been taken by the Bureau for Foreign Affairs.
• Not printed.
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