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of were,
as I have already reported, contained in a
confidential despatch to the Viceroy, a copy of which
found its way into the local press.
It is hardly to be wondered at that the
Portuguese Consul-General declines, under the circumstances
to comply with the Society's request.
You will observe that the question of the
reopening of the "Fatshan" case is now being left in the
background, and that the So°isty are making the Consul's
alleged calumnies a pretext for stirring up popular
feling against the Portuguese, evidently with the object
of prejudioing the boundary delimitation negotiations
now pending.
I am informed by an eye witness of the pro-
ceedings at the meeting referred to that a speaker who
attempted to move a resolution condemning my action in
the "Fatshan" case was promptly ruled "out of order* by
the Chairman.
I have no doubt that the Society, who have the
sympathy