88
general concurrence in Sir John Jordan's
views.
Before communicating with the
Governor of Hongkong kr. Harcourt would be
lad to learn whether, in the opinion of the
Secretary of State, His Majesty's Covernment
should definitely accept this view and should
be prepared to support it firmly in the not
improbable event of protests being made by
Foreign Powers.
3. Further it seems to Ir. llarcourt
to be desiraule to ascertain what conditions
as to control and security His Majesty's
Kinister as well as the Govenor, considers
to be essential; and he presumes that, if
there were no other difficulties, the
possibility of effecting an arrangement would
depend on the extent to which the Canton
Authorities were prepared to go in this
direction.
4.
ir. Harcourt gathers from your
letter of the 25th February that Sir
John Jordan considers that foreign control
cannot be imposed from Peking,while Mr.
Jamieson considers that it can only be
imposed by Peking. In these circumstances
ne can only suggest that the best course to
adopt in present circumstances may be to do
nothing; to allow the situation to develope,
and the financial difficulties of the Canton
Go vernment to increase; and to instruct Kr.
Jamieson (subject to Sir E.Grey's view on the
point raisedin paragraph 2 of this letter)
to keep unofficially before the minds of the
local authorities the prospects of relief
whim the proposed scheme would afford.
5. Fr. Harcourt does not overlook, in
this connection, the loss to the trade of
Hongkong which will result from a continuance
of the existing state of affairs, but he fears
that it is impossible to apply any effective
remedy at present.
6.
Jonn