From a Ca respondent.
Weihaiwei, March 2. not at all probable that Japan will A subject of constant discussion, give up the Liaotung peninsula and the terminus of the South-Man-of absorbing local interest and, to churian Railway, and it remains to some residents, a matter of the be seen whether, after, all, France keenest anxiety, is the contemplated will surrender anything. retrocession of the Territory of Weihaiwes.
Tue Question or CouPENSATION.
i898 Weihaiwei was leased In any event Britain's action in from China for such time as Port voluntarily relinquishing her lease-Arthur remained in the possession hold with the object, apparently, of Russia. As a result of the Russo-of inducing Japan to withdraw Japanese War the lease of Port; from Shantung, will assuredly take Arthur was transferred to Japan. rank as one of the most disinterest-With this transfer some doubt was ed ucts.in history. Further, it may raised as to the British title to be claimed that it was largely owing Weihaiwei, but such doubts were to British action and British influ-soon laid to rest by official stateence that China's national aspiraments, both written and verbal. tions with regard to Tsingtao and For instance, I have before me two Shantung have been met. Surely, letters bearing on the subject, whose then, it is not too much to expect publication at this juncture may that in return for the valuable prove of more than passing interest assistance rendered at a critical (1) Government House, Weihaiwei. juncture in the negotiations with June, 23. 1905. {Yapan, China should voluntarily Sir,~-With reference to your letter of offer to meet the losses British March 4 last regarding the tenure of subjects are bound to incur—in the Weihaiwei, a copy of which was trans-aggregate, a small fraction of the mitted to the Colonial Office, I have the amount she has already agreed to honour, by direction of the Right Hon., pay for Tsingtao and its railway. the Secretary of State for the Colonies, It is probably true that Japan to inform you that His Majesty's G makes no demands for compensaernment do not consider that the British tion for private losses. Why should tenure of Weihaiwei is affected, or ts likely to be affected, by the result of the she? During her seven years' operations now in progress in the Far occupation of Tsingtao, we may be East, sure, the best and most vauuable have the honour to be, Sir, Your sites in that port have passed. into most obedient servant, the hands of Japanese subjects.
(2) J. H. Srewarr Lockuars.
Furnished with a railway, topping Peking, Jwy 3, 1905. jo rich and productive hinterland, the former German port with 1s Sir,—I am directed by His Majesty's Minister to acknowledge the receipt of magnificent docks and other con-your letter of June 21, informing him veniences has a great future before that there are persistent rumours that iit as an international—settlement. the British Government is about to return Tsingtao must increase, but Weihai-Weihaiwei to China, and asking to be wei decrease. Hence, while British furnished with information on the subject. property holders at Weihaiwei find Sir Ernest Satow directs me to infern [it necessary to petition their Gov-you that such rumours should be entirely jemment for assistance, Japanese, in have the honour to be, Sir, Your like position at Tsingtao, will obedient servant. probably remain discreetly silent. Encouraged by the circumstances To the above should be added the funder which Weihaiwei_ was first official pronouncement in Parlia taken over, for the original intenment, when, on behalf of the Secret: tien was to create there a first-class ary of State for Foreign Affairs, naval base; encouraged by official Mr. Runciman declared,—''Té is not declarations when Port Arthur was considered that the transfer of the transferred to Japan; encouraged, Russian lease of Port Arthur to too, by the assurances of local Japan has made any change in the officials who, naturally, have been status of Weihaiwei, which is leased anxious to see the colony develop to His Majesty's Government, and on normal lines and to reduce the no action is at present contemplated! annual subsidy from the Briush with regard to the lease.'' (''Times," taxpayer, and who, on occasions, Feb. 1906.) have gone so far as to assure us A point to be emphasized is that that the British Government never while, in the treaty with China, lets ts subjects down; a small group the British tenure of Weihaiwei was of Britons—exclusive of those who made contingent on that of Port have interests in the place as Arthur by another Power, at no summer visitors have bought then. time has it been contingent on the lands, have built houses and have tenure of Tsingtao by Germany or engaged in business and profession-by Japan. At an carly stage of al pursuits. It is these who will the recent Washington Conference be hardest hit, for the rendition the French delegates declared that Franco would retire from Chang-Chowwan, if Japan gave up both Weihaiwei threatens their means 0: livelihood.
Under British rule and because, Tsingtao and Port Arthur. It is like Hongkong, Weihaiwei has been
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.