207
expedient to insist on the guarantee in each separate case
but for the reasons given above, I do not think we can with
advantage go further were the Chinese Authorities to accede
to the request it would be to render ourselves directly
responssible in appearance in a matter over which we had
in effect, no control.
The great difficulty in this question
of torture is that it is legal in certain cases in Chinese
Courts. It confirmation of this statement I would beg to
refer His Excellency to Mr. Alabaster's "Notes and Commerta-
ries on Chinese Criminal Law" pages 17-19.
I have etc.,
(Sd.) B. C. George Scott,
H. M's Consul-General.