:
373
iately on receipt of my despatch, he had requested Adairal
Li to despatch an adequate force of soldiers to patrol
the line in the threatened sections, and that he had sent
strict instructions to the local authorities to maintain
order and protect the railmy staff.
I gave the Viceroy your message, and he said
that you might reat assured that the Canton Government
would afford this enterprise efficient protection. The
Viceroy a ded that he would the same day dra: the
Provincial Treasurer'ʼn attention to the necessity of
preventing the construction of the line, from being inter-
fored with, and he promised that he would mention the
matter to the Viceroy Designate Yuan, when he met him in
Shanghai.
those
I told the Viceroy that, in my opinion,
disturbances would continue to occur and the construction
of the line be seriously retarded, unless the engineers
had the sympathy and support of the local Magistrates,
and I urged His Excellency to make an example of the