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This was a desperate expedient forced on the gentry.
As they proposed to set up a bureau which must have heads, he inquired by telegraph who it was proposed to recommend; and Governor Tuan-fang presently replied that the gentry suggested (names given) two ex-metropolitan officials as directors, two expectant taotais as managers, a scholar as associate manager, and six men of official status as consultant gentry for whom letters of appointment were asked. So memorialist in consultation with Governor acted as desired.
Those official stamps were called for by the gentry a dozen times by letter and telegram and in person but were not issued till May. He finds that since last year the Hunan gentry in all their telegrams and deputations in regard to the railway question have insisted on the control resting with his office. He retorted that he must act in concert with the Hunan Governor but it took argument and explanation to get his view adopted.
That there are many resident gentry in Hunan is a fact that can be proved. To provide funds to buy land as some slight means of resistance in case the cancellation of the concession proved impossible is a step proper for the local authorities to be concerned in. Memorialist unworthily filled the post of Viceroy of Two Hu which includes superintendence of Hunan; even had he no charge to cancel the concession, he surely could not refuse to take an interest in matters affecting the territory of the Two Hu. The letters of appointment and despatches are in names of both Viceroy and Governor; from what point of view can they be called "monopolising"?
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