Translation of letter A and Postcript.
Dear Mr. Ting Sam,
In reply to your letter, we acquaint you that some time ago, we received certain letters from Chinese residents in foreign parts, asking us to take steps to deal with the "Fatshan" murder case. We feel thankful for the trouble you have taken in negotiating with Tai Koo for a settlement of this matter. Now that Tai Koo have, through you, confirmed in writing the conditions on which the dispute is to be settled, we, the Self Governing Society, have deemed it our duty to inform the Chinese abroad of our intention to come to terms with the Taikoo people and become friends with them again. The conditions we have stated in our reply to our people abroad are as follows:-
1. The Captain of the "Fatshan" to be changed and his dismissal announced to the public.
2. A compensation of $3,200 to be paid to the relatives of the deceased.
3. Taikoo to write to the British Consul requesting him to move the Viceroy of Canton to write to the Portuguese Consul asking him to hold a retrial of the case and we, The Self Governing Society, to hold a meeting and petition the Viceroy asking him to arrange with the British and Portuguese Consuls to rehear the case. All parties, the British and Portuguese Consuls and the Chinese authorities, to abide by the decision, which shall be arrived at in accordance with the merits of the case.
4. The S/S "Fatshan" to put up a notice on board forbidding the crew to ill-treat Chinese passengers and should there be any trouble, the same must be referred to the Captain for him to decide.
The Chinese abroad are bitterly resenting the action of the Portuguese Consul in making, in his official despatch, certain false charges against the witnesses who gave evidence in the case at the last trial, and also against the newspaper and our Society. Now that you have so far succeeded in arranging the terms with Taikoo for a settlement of this matter...