No. 362.
C. O.
1034
میرا کی
17 JAN
Government House,
Hong Kong,
16th December,
1899.
583
Sir,
Enclosure 1.
Dear 1899.
I have the honour to enclose a letter from
Her Majesty's Consul at Canton, important as bearing upon the
unsatisfactory state of the West and North Rivers. I am en-
deavouring to prevent the illicit importation of arms into
China, and an Ordinance is being introduced with the object of
giving to the Government a closer supervision over the arms
trade.
2. But I feel that no efforts on the part of
this Government to prevent smuggling of arms into the disturbed
districts can be of practical use so long as arms can be readily
procured from Macao. I have not felt justified in refusing
permits on the application of the Governor of Macao for the
exportation of arms to that Colony, but it is evident that the
very large quantity of arms and ammunition imported by Macao
cannot be required for use in that small colony. The quantity
imported there during the past twelve months is shown by the
The Right Honourable
JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P.,
EcG.
enclosed