Copy.
453
CONFIDENTIAL.
HONG KONG.
My Lord,
Government House, Hongkong, 29th March, 1909.
With reference to previous correspondence ending with my Confidential Despatch of the 12th ultimo, I have the honour to enclose copy of a letter received from the Consul-General for the United States of America at this Port. The matter being urgent, permission was granted by telephone by the Colonial Secretary without reference to me in the first instance, but since Your Lordship will note that these Patrols are landed on duty and not "for purposes of recreation", and are in fact in aid of the local Police, I consider that a departure of such importance should be brought to Your Lordship's notice.
2. A small American Squadron arrived here on the 13th instant, and an Entertainment Committee was formed, and a series of festivities have been arranged, in which the French Naval Officers and others (under Admiral Perrin) have been included. The arrangement suggested by Mr. Wilder was, in the circumstances, a practical and excellent one, but it is possible that in other circumstances, when less cordiality prevailed, it might lead to conflict of authority with the local Police. No doubt when the large American Battle Fleet visited foreign ports, and thousands of men