together with a copy of the Despatch which I have
addressed to Sir Matthew Nathan, informing His Ex-
cellency that I entirely concur in the views expressed
by Mr. Hopkins.
I have &c.,
(Signed)
Ernest Satow.
No.51.
Sir:-
303
HIS MAJESTY'S CONSULATE-GENERAL,
TIENTSIN,
March 14th, 1906.
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of
your Despatch No.11 of the 6th instant, with enclo-
sures in original which I return herewith, asking my
opinion as to whether it would now be feasible to
open at Tientsin a branch of the Colonial Post Office
under the superintendence of a Consular Officer.
I have the honour to state in reply that I am
much in favour of the establishment of a British Post
Office at Tientsin, provided that the conditions pre-
vailing here are duly considered, and proper arrange-
ments made for coping with them. But I must say at
once that that cannot be done by throwing the work
of a Postal Agency on to the shoulders of one of my
much occupied staff, I do not know whether, suppos-
ing a Consular Assistant to be told off to supervise
it to the exclusion of other work, such a Postal
Sir E. Satow, G.C.M.G.,
&C.
&C.,
&C.,
Agency