453
and at once entered upon the business of my visit. Mr. Pitzipios the Vice-Consul, interpreting most admirably.
After some preliminary observations he remarked that the friendship between England and China had been of long standing on which I assured him that England was China's best friend, and it was with the most friendly feelings that I had done myself the honour of visiting him to request his immediate attention to certain acts of intimidation, and attempts to lead the people of the leased territory astray by an inflammatory placard that had been posted in many villages a copy of which I handed to him with the name of the person who had written it. Knowing the friendly feelings of His Excellency and feeling that he would take immediate action I had determined to bring the matter personally to his notice rather than telegraph to London and Pekin that disorder was threatened in his Province. I therefore requested that the writer of the placard should be made answerable and punished.
He answered that he could not possibly find the person who wrote the placard. To this I demurred. He said I did not know China or I would realize the difficulty. I answered that I knew China sufficiently to know that if His Excellency wanted to find any person in his province that person would be forthcoming. He said the name given might not be the real culprit. Who did I want punished? I answered