612
680
No
Ws Habei
been here and ready, at the first report of the out-
break in the North, the trouble night, have been put
an end to at a very much earlier stage and with very
much less expense and risk. Such a force cannot be
improvised.
It must be organised beforehand.
We now beg of you to use your influence and au-
thority with the Government to induce thei, in addi-
tion to a strong garrison, to maintain in Hongkong as
their sole possession in China a fairly strong nove-
able column, available for instant erployment any-
where in China, properly supplied with everything
necessary to enable it to take the field at a moment's
notice as an independent autonomous force.
We ask for
it specially for the protection of British interests
We consider that
in South China and for a protection against French de-
signs on these Southern provinces.
unless some prompt declarations of policy are put
forth, and unless adequate measures are taken for giv-
ing effect to these declarations, that our long con-
nection with Canton and our paramount commercial posi-
tion
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