mt.
Confidential,
Memorandum.
On April 21st last I called on His Excellency
the Governor who referred to the application by the
Canton authorities for permission to purchase a
certain quantity of arms from the German firms of
Berblinger and Company and Jebsen and Company in
liquidation. His Excellency said that Mr.Hogg,
representative at Canton of Messrs Reiss and
Company had written to Mr. Holyoak, Manager of
that firm at Hongkong, that such purchase ought not
to be allowed, as the arms would ultimately be
used against the British. His Excellency added
that these views had been communicated, presumably
by Mr. Holyoak, to the Military Authorities at
Hongkong, who were then raising objections to the
proposed transaction. On my return to Canton I
spoke to Mr. Hogg on this matter, who expressed the
opinion that the arms in question would find their
way into German hands and he used against the
British residents on Shameen. I explained to lir.
Hogg that such a view was nonsensical in the extreme.
2. When was at Hongkong on the date above
mentioned I called at the Provost Marshal's office.
The
133