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by this Department that the retrocession to China should be deferred for a short time. The Colony has obtained large extension of territory the acquisition of which has taken a long time and more recently been urgently branched out by the Military Authorities; and it therefore seems not unreasonable that it should bear a portion of the expenses incidental to its occupation. Lord Salisbury would however be glad to learn that a fair proportion of the expenditure in question will ultimately be charged to naval and military funds.
His Lordship agrees that it would be desirable to obtain from China some pledge that the people living outside the frontier, who may have shown friendliness to the British troops during the occupation shall not be allowed to suffer on their withdrawal, and although in all probability this could be arranged more effectively on the spot by the local authorities, he is quite prepared to send instructions to Dr. Balfour in the sense suggested in your letter.
Your most obedient servant,
Francis Bertie