12
13
161
and officials to any control over lekin and other imposts formerly levied by them, and our Minister at Peking has doubtless explained how they have been trying by every device they can think of to upset the Convention.
7%.
Many of our people may perhaps share the opinion officially expressed to me the other day, that we should do nothing to strengthen the Central Government at Peking, but in trade as in other matters it is better to deal with one set of responsible authorities than with many sets of irresponsible authorities, who, in case of need, can always shelter themselves behind the Central Government, and I feel sure that a policy of keeping the Taungle Yamên weak and helpless is neither honest nor conducive in the long run to our true interests!
7.