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R↓ 12/Consulats÷Sonera),
Cantóny: September 16th, 1901.
1. I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch of the 5th instant, regarding the prisoners extradited from Hongkong; and conveying the thanks of His Excellency the Governor to Mr. Bly for his action in this case, which I have duly conveyed to that Officer.
His Excellency further desires to know if the sentence has been carried out without concession, provisionally obtained from the prisoners.
In reply, I beg to enclose copy of a Report by Mr. Bly detailing the final proceedings in carrying out the sentence on the prisoners in question.
It will be seen from this Report, the Chinese Authorities have dealt with the prisoners without justifying European intervention in carrying out the death sentence; they have done so on the strength of the evidence, and without the formal confession of guilt, such as the Chinese Official usually insists upon obtaining from the accused, if not voluntarily given, by torture.
I have, &c.,
(Sd.) James Stewart,
His Majesty's Acting Consul-General.
Despatch No. 265 of 12th September, 1901.
Stewart to Lansdowne.
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