8
*Reports current here of outbreak of troops *in Macas. I shall be grateful for an assurance from *Your Excellency that there is no danger to lives or "liberties of British subjects in order to allay
*anxiety of relatives".
Lugerd".
and had received a reply as follows:-
*Governor, Mongkong.
*No danger to lives or liberties of British *subjects in Macao: order completely restored".
Governor" +
+
The situation was now, however,
very clear. News was conflicting and various rumours
were
in circulation. It was obvious that the troops and sellors
were out of the control of their officers, and as they had
already broken all bounds of discipline, it was not in-
-conceivable that some further act of lawlessness might
occur. There was moreover another factor which lent
uncertainty to the situation.
The Chinese as you are aware are
much exasperated against the Government of Macao which
they accuse
•
probably with much justification
of aiding
in the importation of arms inte China, and ef legalising
gambling houses, a question which just now is greatly
agitating the poeple of Canton. This feeling which was
responsible
1