1
558
5.
I have now instructed the Postmaster General
to inform the Chinese Mining and Engineering Company that
subject to your approval which is being asked for I am
prepared to start the office onthe above basis from the
1st. October, 1906, and at the same time have told him to
point out to the Company that, as it is possible, if not
probable, that the Post Office at Tientsin may be run at
a loss to this Goverment and is being established in the
interests of British merchants at Tientsin and their corres
pondents in England as well as for the advantage of British
prestige in China, it is hoped that the Company will co-
operate with this Government in keeping down the expendi-
ture to the minimum compatible with efficient working.
6.
I now ask Your Lordship's approval to making
this experiment for a year from the 1st. October, 1906, and
that this approval may be communicated to me by telegraph.
A telegram consisting of the single word "Post" will suf-
fice for this purpose. On the receipt of such a telegram I
will obtain the necessary vote for this year from the Legis-
lative Council, and make the required provision in the
Estimates for 1907.
7.
Should Your Lordship's decision be favoura-
ble, I would suggest that the Authorities at St.Martin's
year.
le Grand be requested to make an announcement that for one
from