**
34
sudden emergency, and it must be noted that if a foreign
firm owned large coal depôts here with all the appliances
A
for coaling they might at any time secretly lay in stock .
^
of the best coal in anticipation of contingencies which
they might foresee. It would no doubt be preferable if this
trade were entirely in the hands of British Merchants, but
in time of war steps would of course be taken to effectual-
berna
-ly prevent any supplies of coaljavailable from depôts in
Hongkong for an enemy's ships, and it is only during the
period of strained relations antecedent to war that any
difficulty in preventing an enemy's ship from coaling
might arise. At such a time however it would be most im-
-probable that a Man-of-war would desire to take up
inferior Japanese coal.
12.
Ün careful consideration therefore
I see no reason why the present application shouldbe
refused, and as the Mitsui Bussen Kaisha are pressing for
reply I shall be obliged if you will telegraph your
approval if you concur with my view.
13.
The present case has, however,
led me to consider whether His Majesty's Government would
view with indifference the accumulation in this port of
large quantities of the best steaming coal for Naval vessel
in