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good enough to lay before the Imperial Government.
Though the Chinese Government have apparently attempted, as far as the limited means at their disposal permit them, to carry out their obligations, it is undeniable that during the past two years they have been unable to prevent a steady, though illicit, importation of arms from proceeding throughout the country. His Majesty's Government have indeed received reports shewing that during that time the importation of arms has attained such dimensions that it is at present doubtful whether the prohibition has had any appreciable effect in restricting the traffic.
That this should be the case is hardly a matter for surprise, if consideration be given to the extent and configuration of the coast line of the Chinese Empire, and to the large profits made by those concerned in the arms trade. In support of this view I may be permitted to refer to the observations made by Your Excellency in October last relative to the importation of arms from Belgium into China.
It appears to His Majesty's Government almost inconceivable