4217
arme of France. The further
excencion of French authority
inn Annam and
Tonquin will
have the effect of increasing the brights of English ships, and of enlarging the market for English goods. If course, however, the
feeling of the mercantile community, at Hong Kong would be widely different if the policy pursued
France should ultimately provoke a war with China, and lead to a blockade of the principal Chinese Ports by the powerful French Squadron, which has been anchored for several weeks past in the harbour
of Hong Kong. Any such blockade
would entail a disastrous
interruption of the
great English trade with the Chinese Empire.
5. Whatever may
be the
relations existing at present between English
and French Authorities in other quarters
the world, the most cordial understanding continues to be maintained between
Admiral Meyer and his officers
on one side, and on the other side, myself
and the members
of the Government. But I dare not conceal from your Lordship
that