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disapproval and Consul Robertson as to the description of Flag entitled to be recognized as the National Flag of China 2. I notice that Your Lordships have been informed of almost every step which I took in connection with that subject, and I am sorry for this because I had, I suppose, to adopt the safest course by adhering to the Official Notifications of Her Majesty's Government.
The Department of Her Majesty's Government most concerned in such questions, namely the Admiralty, had officially signified to their principal Officer on this Station the decision of the Chinese Government as to the Flag to be displayed by Imperial Chinese vessels. Circumstances had made it specially desirable that Chinese Merchant Vessels should carry some distinguishing Flag, and whilst the Public were unusually anxious for information on the subject, I received from the British Admiral of this Station the official notification of the resolution arrived at by the Imperial Chinese Government, and the instructions of the Admiralty based thereon. The information seemed to me peculiarly opportune because certainty was the thing most needed at the moment. The Consul, however, wished a Square Flag to be substituted for the three-cornered one appointed by the Imperial Government, but as the latter alone could authorize such a change and no such authority