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in the future.
I did not however keenly espouse the proposal thinking that very possibly it would be likely to provoke suspicion and perhaps opposition on the part of the local authorities and traders.
Moreover the advantages of obtaining an outlet for British trade in this direction appeared to me so obvious that under any circumstances I think I should have hesitated in recommending the expense of a Consular Mission such as the Hongkong Chamber of Commerce proposed, unless there appeared some immediate prospect of the Chinese Government complying with the subsequent request of Her Majesty's Government.
Since the receipt of Mr Watters' despatch I have received from the Hongkong Chamber of Commerce, as Your Lordship is doubtless aware, a copy of their petition to Your Lordship, praying that steps may be taken to persuade the Chinese Government to agree to the opening of one or more Treaty Ports on the West River, and in acknowledging its receipt
I informed the Chamber that should I see a favourable opportunity no effort would be spared on my part to press the question upon the Chinese Government.
But satisfactory as it would be to me personally to be able to contribute in any degree to carrying out Your Lordship's wishes in this respect, made known to me as far back as 1886, and to afford this boon to British Commercial interests I confess I do not see at the present moment any leverage by which the Chinese Government can be made to accede to a request which however beneficial to British trade and even pecuniarily profitable to the Central Government, is yet in direct variance with the policy which unfortunately animates the Tsungli Yamen in its relations with Foreign Powers.
It has however occurred to me that possibly this question might be included in the Burmah Frontier Trade Regulations' Convention, or that at all events it might be suggested in London in view of the special privileges enjoyed by France on the Tonkin frontier, and which certainly appear to be working