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8 Union Court, Old Broad Street
To The Right Honourable
E. C. December 23rd
Joseph Chamberlain
My
Secretary of State for the Colonies
Permit me most respectfully to refer you to letters addressed to Sir Robt Mead dated October 25th 1895 and a reply dated 22nd November 1895 numbered 18874/95 in reference to a Russo-Chinese treaty which I since understand was a convention by which Russia was to occupy the important port Port Arthur, although officially denied at the time, subsequent events prove such a convention had been entered into or why should a roadway be constructed through Manchuria to Port Arthur unless for a permanent occupancy by Russia.
Germany having now taken a decided step in occupying Kiao-Chau also raises important issues. Pardon me in making a suggestion to prosecuting our interests in the North Pacific. Port Hamilton should be reoccupied. It was discovered and named by Admiral Belcher in 1845. It is a spacious harbour formed by three islands of Corea of the Nan-how group 30 miles south and 45 miles N. C. of Quelpart. It was annexed by Britain in 1885, two battalions of English troops were in occupation during the Tonking rebellion, a large quantity of Army and Navy stores was landed and the port was abandoned at the request of China backed up by Russia. Conditions which may be found in 1886 upon the Foreign Office.