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Disturbances in Canton

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Resource type
Document
Title
Disturbances in Canton
Abstract
This official dispatch, dated 9 November 1900, originates from the Portuguese Consulate in Canton (Guangzhou) and is addressed to a high-ranking diplomatic or governmental authority. The document reports on the political and social conditions in Canton and the surrounding region during the final year of the nineteenth century. The consul, Felipe Guerra, informs his superior that calm has been restored in Canton following recent disturbances in local villages, with order fully re-established by 3 November. He notes the absence of confirmed unrest in the neighbouring province of Guangxi, indicating no spread of rebellion. A central focus of the report is an economic protest in Canton on 1 November 1900, wherein merchants and property owners collectively refused to pay a newly imposed levy—equivalent to two months’ rental income, half borne by landlords and half by tenants—intended for the maintenance of local security forces. Dissatisfied with corruption or inefficiency among local officials, who collected funds without providing adequate military protection, the commercial class declared a strike, demanding direct payment to armed forces. The strike halted all commerce for two and a half days, including small-scale trade, with major districts entering temporary agreements seemingly as a delaying tactic to coordinate with leading merchants. Despite the disruption, the consul emphasizes that public order remained intact throughout. This document provides primary evidence of fiscal tensions, urban governance challenges, and merchant agency in late Qing China, particularly within the context of foreign consular observation and colonial-era diplomatic reporting.
Date
November, 1900
Language
Portuguese
Short Title
Disturbances in Canton
URL
http://localhost:8000/docs/LFUK7NIP/viewer_LFUK7NIP.html
Archive
Portugal. Arquivo Diplomático e Biblioteca do Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros
Loc. in Archive
Caixa 574
Call Number
S16.E24.P12.-87279
Link
Notes

Transcription

Page 1

CONSULADO DE PORTUGAL EM CANTÃO N.º 28 A Cantão, 9 de novembro de 1900. [UNCLEAR: best interpretation] [UNCLEAR: best interpretation] Tenho a honra de informar a V.Exa. que em Cantão continua havendo sossego, estando já restabelecida a ordem nas aldeias onde houve os últimos tumultos. A rebelião na província de Kwang-Si não virou, pois não consta que S'ali tenham sido recebidas quaisquer notícias de desordens. Na cidade de Cantão e que no dia 1 do corrente aconteceu o seguinte: Os negociantes e proprietários a quem fora imposto, para manutenção dos trejos, uma nova contribuição (a importância equivalente a dois meses de renda de casas, metade que seria paga pelos primeiros e metade pelos segundos). Declararam-se em greve, por quererem eles pagar directamente a força armada que fosse precisa, pois que, segundo alegavam, os mandatários recebiam o dinheiro, e não tinham soldados.

Page 2

mas também os cancellos, que por medida de segurança, há de espaço a espaço nas ruas. Durante dois dias e meio não houve transacção alguma, mesmo no pequeno commercio; os maiores bairros transigiram, mas parece que só para fardarem tempo, e poderem entender-se com os principaes negociantes. A ordem, porém, não foi alterada, e desde o dia 3 que a cidade voltou ao estado normal. Deus Guarde a V.ª. Felipe Guerra S.

Translation

Page 1

--- TRANSLATION ---
PORTUGUESE CONSULATE IN CANTON
No. 28
Canton, 9 November 1900

[UNCLEAR: best interpretation]
[UNCLEAR: best interpretation]

I have the honour to inform Your Excellency that calm continues in Canton, with order having already been restored in the villages where the most recent disturbances occurred. The rebellion in the province of Guangxi has not spread, as there have been no reports received indicating any disorders in that region.

In the city of Canton, the following incident took place on the first day of the current month: Merchants and property owners—who had been required to pay a new levy for the maintenance of military forces (an amount equivalent to two months’ rental income from properties, half of which was to be borne by the merchants and half by the landlords)—declared a strike. They insisted on making direct payments to whatever armed force might be necessary, arguing that although officials collected the funds, they failed to provide troops in return.

Page 2

--- TRANSLATED TEXT ---
as well as the street barriers, which, for security purposes, were erected at intervals along the streets. For two and a half days, no transactions took place whatsoever, even in petty commerce; the larger districts appeared to reach a temporary agreement, but it seems this was merely to gain time and allow them to coordinate with the principal merchants. Order, however, was not compromised, and from the 3rd onward, the city returned to its normal state. God keep you, V.ª. Felipe Guerra S.

Citation
Disturbances in Canton (Caixa 574). (1900). Portugal. Arquivo Diplomático e Biblioteca do Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros. http://localhost:8000/docs/LFUK7NIP/viewer_LFUK7NIP.html
Primary Sources
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Link to this record
https://bdm-biblio.usj.edu.mo/bibliography/LFUK7NIP