4
94
it
may ultimately become so) but a political dispute between the Governing and
· Governed bodies originating.
un.
with an
ignorant and reasoning
class of the com- munity. This being the position of affairs, and the principle of the supremaey of the Government being involved, I felt it in-
cumbent
onme
to main
tain a firm attitude and not to shrink from in-
curring
curring responsibility rather than to submit to what I
cannot but regard
as an
an at
attempt to override the Government, in fact tempt at mob rule.
A heavy responsibility
and
has been cast upon me, the weight of that responsi- bility has been considerably increased by the vacillating and half-hearted policy of the representatives of the ~ European commercial inter