shipmasters, without succeeding at all.
There has never arisen during all these years a single shade of suspicion that the owners, captains or officers have had any connivance with these affairs.
I beg leave to repeat to Your Lordship my earnest conviction that the packages, the object of these seizures are, in some instances at least, fraudulently placed on board either here or at Hongkong with a view of reaping the very substantial reward given by the Administration of this Colony: it is probable that if the aforesaid rewards were reduced, the business would not be worth doing, to the great relief of British shipowners.
I venture to repeat also my conviction that no relief may be expected here but that the British and German Ministers at Paris may, by representing the griefs of shipowners, obtain some part at least, of the very reasonable demands put forward.
I have, &c.,
(Signed) C. F. Remlett.
Her Britannic Majesty's Consul.
AFT.
F.O. Hay Hay 20719 9/9 U.S. of State Foreign Office MINUTE...
Fiddian 25/8 Sun W. Hamilton Antrobus, Cox. Lucas, Graham. E. Wingfield. of Selborne. Chamberlain.
Nr. 165. 20815) 4 July "With aft on 20815 Anad 27933/9974472/02 Sin- Thing 464 30 Aug 99
I am directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 5th instant, forwarding copy of despatch from the British Consul at Saigon, respecting the prevalence of false open smuggling on vessels arriving from Hong Kong at that port.
2. I am to enclose a copy of a despatch from Her Majesty's Minister at Paris on the subject.