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deeply interested, That the soldiery must be paid, or there
would be terrible bloodshed in which their own relatives would
be in danger. I was not therefore going to lay down theoretical- * principles which they could not possibly fulfil, and provided that they kept within the lines laid down by me I was prepared to concede whatever latitude I possibly could. But as each difficul-
-ty arose they should come and lay it before me.
They all heartily agreed and the meeting
broke up with much good-riax will. Dr. Ho Kai and Mr. Wei Yuk
remained behind. They were emphatic that the meeting had done the greatest possible good. That their own position had become not a little difficult but that is my reiteration of principles
they had endeavoured to uphold had crushed the differences in the bud.
Later in conversation Dr. Ho Kai informed me
all
that they had proved beyond doubt that the opening of the
prisons and the liberation of all the cut-throats and robbers
who now formed the terror and danger at Canton was the act not
of the Revolutionary Government as had been stated byxxx but
of the Ex-Viceroy just before his departure. In consequence of
my appeal that he should be accorded hospitality and safety in
Hongkong they had refrained from letting this be know. Had it
become known he thought the indignation would have been so great
that probably an organised attack would have been made upon his
house.
I informed the Chinese gentlemen that I had
just received a telegram from Sir J. Jorden telling me that Sun
Yat Sen had asked that the prohibition to his landing in Hongkong
should be withdrawn. I had no objection to doing so, on condition
that he did not Er reside here or carry on his Revolutionary
Propaganda here, since he could equally well do so at Canton. Nor
did I wish that he should be received with a great ovation. They
entirely agreed and said that they would tell the Chinese Press
to be silent as to his arrival and have no demonstration.
(sd.) F. D. Lugard.
20.11.11.
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