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It would be advisable to stay the proceedings and send Chun Yin to Canton to be dealt with by the Authorities there. I declined, however, to interfere with the course of the Chinese Office. This decision was arrived at, because Sir Brooke Robertson did not express the opinion that after an investigation diplomatic complications were likely to ensue, even though the Chinese Official was sentenced to punishment.
Nevertheless, in finally receiving a despatch from Sir Brooke Robertson to the effect that he had great fears of an adverse verdict in the Supreme Court seriously compromising the good relations existing between the two Governments, I thought it right to ask the advice of the Executive Council as to what action, if any, it would be advisable to take.
Happily, it was not necessary to come to any conclusion as to the suggestion of the Council, for the Attorney General, who had only a day or two previous, been able to look into the