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Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China, which was
personally handed to the Colonial Secretary by Mr. W.
Dickson, who stated that Opium to the value of $10,000,000
had now accumulated in the Colony and that unless decisive
action was taken by His Majesty's Government a serious
financial crisis would result, affecting not only Opium
Merchants but many other interests in this Colony.
3.
My previous telegrams and Des-
-patches have placed Your Lordship in possession of all
facts relating to this last attempt of the Cantonese Govern-
-ment to evade the Opium Treaties, and I have nothing to
add to the recommendations made in my Despatch of the
16th. ultimo and my telegram of the 19th, ultimo. The
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long delay in settling this matter is a heavy blow to
British prestige in South China.
I have the honour to be,
My Lord,
Your Lordship's most obedient,
humble servant,
Officer Administering the Govern-
-ment.
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