16.
Government, and that the Executive Council here, if inclined to do so, might otherwise have found in some way or means to comply with their request.
Therefore in justice to this Government and with a view to preventing difficulties hereafter His Excellency hopes that you will be particular in removing from the mind of the Vice Roy any soreness consequent on the impossibility of meeting his wishes in this case; and though you will of course consider this despatch as specially meant for yourself and as not communicable to any Chinese Authority, His Excellency relies on your taking your own course of putting this Government right with the Vice Roy and reminding him of the readiness with which his wishes have been met and even anticipated in all cases where there was legal power to do so.
I have &c.
(Signed) I. Gardiner Austin, Colonial Secretary.
(True Copy.)
Godfrey Martin,
Acting Colonial Secretary.