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Majesty's Consul Generals at Canton and Manila,
Mr. Fox
seemed certain that things had greatly improved at the
former port and on the 17th June Kr.Layard, in a despatch
copy of which is enclosed, reported that the Manila Agents
of Mesers Butterfield and Swire did not think that the
**
boycott would come to anything there. On the 12th of June
however, Mr.Law, the Hongkong Agent of the firm, informed
Sir F.Lugard that their trade between Hongkong and "anila
had been completely destroyed and explained the steps he
vas taking to come to an arrangement with the Self Govern-
ment Society,
While fully appreciating the extreme dif-
ficulty of dealing with a Chinese boycott and the great and
delicate responsibility attaching to Mr.Law as the repre-
sentative of such immense and varied British interests,
I cannot help sharing in the grave misgivings felt both by
the Government of Hongkong and the Consul General at Canton
as to the wisdom of the stop he has taken in entering into
direct relations with euch an association as the Self
Coverment Society at Canton.
However that may be, I felt justified, without waiting
for