head of the Canton Police force was more than merely
cognizant of the intention to commit a murder in
British territory. He concluded by suggesting that
a demand be made for a sum of $20,000 for the widow
and family of the murdered man. In his despatch of
June 20th, 1903, he suggests that the amount should
be $50,000 for the widow and family.
I have not, however, found any explanation of the grounds on
which it was thought desirable to increase the com-
pensation to the widow and family. But apart from
the question of the amount of the claim, it seems to
me that the present Viceroy would certainly refuse
to pay either sum, and that, in the absence of di-
rect proof of the Provincial Government's complicity,
we could not enforce payment, while the mere demand
for its payment would prompt the Canton Government
to resist the request for a trial of the accused
persons even more determinedly than they might other-
wise do.
I am sending copies of this letter to His Maj-
esty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and
to the Acting Consul General at Canton.
(Signed)
I have &c
Ernest Satow.
to
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