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saemed to me to be so njustifiablo and so derogatory to
the honour of the British flag that I felt hat I could
not under the circumstances argue, without loss of dignity,
the question of her detention with the Chinese Authorities.
At the Bune time I was careful to restrain the
British Naval Authorities, who h-d, on the seizure becoming
known, of their om accord strohgthened the naval force
present in nton by the addition of a torpedo boat
destroyer and two river gunboate, from taking any action
which might be construed into en intention of furcibly
releasing the ship.
Lieutenant Commander Walcott of Lac Moorhen", to
whose tactful treatment of the Thinure Naval Authorities
throughout the incident is dua in great measure the suc-
cessful issue of the negotiations, induced the Chinese
Admiral, on the morning of December 29th., to remove the
armed guard from the ship and to allow her to coal.
This made it possible for no to enter into personal
negotiations with the Viceroy, which I did by calling
on is zacellency the following morning.
In