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383
question of the boundariạn retwined unsettled, admit the claim
that any part of Macno was unquestionably the property of the
Portuguese, to whom it had been originally only leased.
He
added that he deprecated discussing the question with me sines
his Government were not in a position to control the Canten
Authorities.
I then enquired whether I wis to report to my Govern-
ment that the Central Government of China admitted their inabi-
lity to deal with the question in any way,
His Kxe »llency renlied that he would not go so far as to
say that: at the same time, however, the Central Government
could not so apt responsibility for the situation.
I then enquired, speaking personally, whether it would
any good suggesting arbitration: would the Chinese Governmort
be in a position to entertain such a pronosa) ?
4
Mr Ch'en Lu said that it would be useless for the Central
Dovernment to support such a proposal at present ▸
#qsing that
they exercised no power over the South: the best course would be
for His Majesty'■ Consul General at Canton to make representas
tions to the Southern Government, whikh the Wai Chino Pu would
also send a telegram to the Canton Authorities urging them to
lias en to reason. it would be advantageous, he added, if i
would advise the Portuguesa to stop the harbour works.
1