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2.
On the 19th. instant I received a telegram
from the Governor of Singapore, to whom I had telegraphed asking the cause of the outbreak, to the effect, inter alia, that it was your wish that no telegrams relating to the incident should be allowed to pass, and suggesting a censorship of all letters with the exception of those addressed to Great Britain which, it was stated, would be censored there.
I at once took steps to institute such a censorship even over Chinese letters, but this latter precaution. which is extremely difficult and costly owing to the mass of correspondence involved I abandoned on the 22nd. as I found that
the news had reached Canton almost as soon as it was known here.
The censorship of other letters continues, but
is extremely difficult to cope with owing to the variety of languages involved. Every European language is used and many dialects of India and I would ask your instructions by telegraph whether you wish the censorship to be continued.
3.
The incident has naturally given rise to
exaggerated rumours, and I am informed that it is being much dis- -cussed amongst the Civilian Mahomedan population many of whom are of the wat chunan class. But there is no sign of any unrest among
this section of the community. Nevertheless precautions have been
quietly taken against any eventuality.
4.
I fear the endeavours to prevent the dissemina-
-tion of the news are not likely to be very effective for the
information was published in Japan on the 18th. instant. As no
telegram on the subject passed through this Colony the news must
have been conveyed by the wireless installations of Japanese ships.
The information was also posted up in the
Smoking room of the Japanese steamer "Kano Maru" which left
Singapore on the 16th. instant and several passengers by that
steamer had with them Singapore newspapers, of the same date,
which contained accounts of the outbreak with the names of some of
the