C. 2118
PRO R
EGR 4 FR
No. 1.
Sir G. Bonham to the Marquis of Salisbury.-(Received January 26.)
(No. 9. Confidential.) My Lord,
Lisbon, January 16, 1887. WITH reference to your Lordship's telegram of yesterday relating to opium traffic at Macao, I have the honour to report that I called this morning on Mr. J. D. Campbell, who has now been for some weeks in Lisbon, engaged in a negotiation between the Chinese and Portuguese Governments, relating to Macao. I found him reticent on the subject of his mission, which, he stated, was not, strictly speaking, a negotiation, as nothing beyond strictly confidential conversations had taken place between himself and the Portuguese Minister for Foreign Affairs. He, however, authorized me to state with regard to opium traffic at Macao, that confidential communications were going on, but that no arrangement had been arrived at. He was unable, he said, to say how much longer these communications might continue, as he found telegraphic communication with China tedious and uncertain, and the action of the Portuguese Government dilatory.
I have, &c. (Signed) G. F. BONHAM.
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