Extract referred to in letter 5th June from D. J. Keswick to H. E. Sir Wm. Robinson. Hongkong 350 of 23rd April 1894.
"Allow me in the first place to thank you for the draft petition which you were good enough to place in my hands, and in connection with which I appreciate your courtesy in inviting any suggestions that might occur to me as an improvement upon it. I would not hesitate to take advantage of the privilege thus accorded me if I saw my way to becoming one of the signatories to the memorial but I do not feel that I can subscribe my own, Jardine, Matheson & Co's name to it, it would be unbecoming, as well as unnecessary, as were I to volunteer a criticism either upon its manner or matter.
In declining, however, to sign the petition, it is only due to you that I should mention why I do so! I base my refusal on general grounds, and particularly the past history and administration of...