required careful discussion.
In explanation of the delay this
Excellency
told me in confidence that Sheng, who has been in Peking for
the past three weeks, finds himself at the moment in a position of serious difficulty. There has been much dissatisfaction with his management of the Lue han Railway, and
on
may Board
or
16th
an
Imperical
Decree ordered the
Commerce and the Viceroy Juan Shih- k'ai to supervise his doings, eradicating abruses and corrupt practices" at the Same time the Board of Commerce was instructed to "scrutinise strictly "the Lu accounts of the Le han line. A Decree in such terms was evidence enough that Sheng's numerous enemies were in the ascendant, but to add to his difficulties
175
the French minister had formally protested at the Wai we pu against the Decree as
a
reflection on the Belgian Company which was building the railway, and on the Engineer in Chief. M. Jadot. The Belgian minister had also made observations the same tenour, but he had taken care
of
to make them privately to Na t'uing alone. The Grand Council suspected Sheng of prompting this official intervention of the French minister, and their suspicions were probably
increased by Shengs
careful abstention from the calls on the Foreign Representatives which he would have made in the ordinary course. altogether Sheng was in great anxiety and scarcely knew what to do. For the moment it was hopeless to expect any. action from him, his first and obvious
to remove the immediate being peril and pacify his enemies.
Care
as your Lordship will have. gathered from my despatch N° 130 of Aprild
P
I am
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