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aaot eventmo s al 81ert boslat nism edt mo
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rait 119-13 grivib
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(berg18)
Larens-Irano0 gritoA
anslation.
Taotai Wen Tsung Yao to Mr. Fox.
C.O.
45417 436
bes
I FC08
CANTON,
September 16th, 1908.
Sir:-
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of
your letter in which you ask me to have a search made
in the archives of the Viceroy's Yamen and let you know
whether or not the island of Pratas, situated some
170 miles due South East
of Hongkong, belongs to China.
I have found that the Island of Pratas is situa-
ted to the South West of Formosa and to the South East
of Hongkong, and is a barren sand bank in the shape of
a horse shoe. On the Western side there is an inlet
which for many years has been used by Chinese fishing
craft as a storm anchorage. There is no doubt as to
its status as a Chinese island. Some years ago the
Viceroy of the Two Kwang sent a commission to make a
survey and chart of the island.
I am informed that recently a certain Japanese
visited the locality and that telegraphic instructions
were in consequence received from the Wai Wu Pu to en-
quire into the case and take such action as might be
necessary.
While