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From F.O.C. in China & Hong Kong To H.E. The Governor of Hong Kong
Secret
Sir,
26/08/99
18/89/99.
With reference to your Excellency's request that I should call upon Major Morris R.A. to send in an alternative scheme for the Defence of Amoy, to be submitted to the Home authorities, in order that they might be sent forward to the Field Force, as it seemed desirable to have the honour to state that I have seen Major Morris, and he informs me that so far as he has acted, he has done so entirely within the instructions given to him by Your Excellency.
That is, that he confined himself entirely whilst at Amoy, to generalities, giving absolutely no information as to details on which they could form any opinion. That then when two schemes, and two only, which were in any way feasible, had been sent on to England through Your Excellency. None other than these two would hold any stamp or appearance of propriety, and of reality, and to propose any other would create mistrust and impair confidence, and thus frustrate the end in view. But Major Morris went on to say that what was wanted by the Home authorities, was not schemes of plans of defence, for as to those he found that they had virtually made up their minds; what they did want was plans for the best sites for the erection of defence works, and the positions they thought best for batteries.
This is what, in reality, they wanted at hand, and until these have been submitted, they can do nothing.