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that, if they Evidence from China, they would probably get reports from the Consuls giving private opinions were asked to obtain.
Their own subject, & would not be able to set Sub-Commissions at the various Treaty Ports to informally gather Evidence in the way suggested in this letter.
If so, Lord Brassey will probably think it more satisfactory to go to China himself, as proposed in par of this letter. And in that case it would seem desirable that he should also himself visit Japan.
There are several practical difficulties in the way of Local Commissions appointed by the Governors of the Straits & Hong Kong, as proposed in this letter:
(1) As to cost (regarding which this letter is discreetly silent). Not sure that the Colonies ought to be made to pay. On the other hand, if the cost is to be part of the expenses of the Royal Commission to be divided between this country and India, who is to limit the number of witnesses called & length of their Examination? The expense of shorthand writer, taking evidence (much of which may turn out useless) may easily mount up to a considerable sum.
(2) It would be very difficult to get satisfactory evidence on both sides of the question. We cannot be sure of getting a representative of the Anti-Opium Society who would be satisfactory to that Society & its friends.
[If necessary we could ask the Anti-Opium Society here whether they would nominate a representative. At the moment I do not think it likely that they could do so].
(3) In Hong Kong it has been found impossible to get together any Retrenchment Committee (as proposed by Lord Brassey) owing especially to the bad feeling between officials and non-officials. The reasonableness of the proposals of W. Whithead and a Chinese Committee appointed (the Po Leung Kuk, a Protecting Society for Children) was dragged in, and its proceedings were most unbusiness-like, I doubt therefore whether a satisfactory Committee could be got together in Hong Kong at any rate, especially if the question of throwing...
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