403
adopt some other by which they might be readily distinguished from the native population. Should they fail to obey this injunction, they would not be entitled to claim British protection or interference on their behalf in any Court of Justice or elsewhere in the Chinese Dominions.
a in Drake. No 145
Dec 4th 1869
This Notification was protested on 7th Aug against by the authorities of the Straits Settlements, but Sir R. Black acted on it. Despatch 4049 of 1869 held this opinion of 6 of Aug. 1869, Clarendon, informed him of the acceptance of this despatch by the Colonial Office. This last Despatch was received here on Oct. 5, 1869, but a few weeks before Sir R. Alcock's departure and my return. As his notification of Oct. 1868 had never been revoked, Sir R. Alcock might naturally think that the Consul required no additional intimation that it was in force, notwithstanding
I have great doubts so far as that its conditions have anywhere been complied with.
I am personally concerned. I regret today that although I had heard at the Foreign Office in 1869 of the protest against the Notification, I had entirely forgotten (for I had certainly read it) the Despatch from J. Clarendon, which undoubtedly confirms its provisions, and the obligation they impose on our Anglo-Chinese subjects was in effect unknown to me until the matter reported in the foregoing Despatch made it necessary for me to...