I have watched with some anxiety the lack of progress hitherto made in the negotiations between the holders of the opium licences in Formosa and the Japanese authorities, and in view of the laches of the local officials with the view of anticipating such a result, I have done everything in my power to facilitate an equitable arrangement between the holders of opium and the Formosan Government.
Should they however eventually be unable to come to terms, I should not consider myself justified in presenting any claim to the Japanese Government before forwarding the whole correspondence to Your Lordship and asking for instructions.
(Signed)
Ernest Satow.
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