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4005
REGE 9 MAR 85,
No.
Earl Granville to M. Waddington.
M. l'Ambassadeur,
Foreign Office, March 6, 1885. HER Majesty's Government have carefully considered the suggestion which is made in your Excellency's note of the 4th ultimo, to the effect that in view of the existing hostilities between France and China, the exportation from Hong Kong of arms and munitions of war should be prohibited, by Proclamation under the Colonial Ordinance of 1862.
I have now the honour to state, in reply, that Her Majesty's Government could not comply with this request without departing from the traditional policy of this country, which has been maintained during all previous wars between foreign States.
The French Government have resorted to the remedy afforded by the law of nations against the carriage of contraband of war to Chinese ports by exercising the right of search over neutral vessels on the high seas, and unless they should be disposed to waive that right, the matter must as it appears continue to be governed by the rules of international law.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
GRANVILLE.
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