1° 18
#
219 19
919
#t
a
especially
CLO
H. M's Minister was told that it lay entirely with himself either to yield or not to them.
Of 22. I therefore sum up by protesting against the precedent which that concession has established, as I believe the levying of duties on a "foreign friendly Port" is unusual and against International custom. Finally, I protest against the measure as most unwise and impolitic because it tempts the Chinese Government to perpetrate the most culpable acts of swindling and robbery under the guise of collecting "Imperial duties".
I protest against the precedent of accepting the Viceroy's unpublished explanations of illegal portions of an important published Proclamation as being either adequate or satisfactory so long as the Proclamation itself was left unaltered. Lastly, I protest against the prolonged and deliberate concealment of the whole scheme from myself, as Governor of the British Colony against which the new policy of the Viceroy was aimed.
I remark that the Consul simply defended himself by alleging that I would probably have raised objections, as stated in his letter to Sir Rutherford Alcock, 31st July last, by stating that once he had written to H. M's Minister, it would be premature to communicate with me pending a reply. I am not aware of any scheme against the interests of this Colony, which could not be concealed.
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GR124/87/68