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and there is an agitation to increase their number in view
of the saving of time. It is, however, certain that American ships will continue to come and go via Hong Kong, China and/or Japan, partly for the sake of coaling facilities but even more because many such vessels, whose main objective is in those places, will still come on to Manila, There rould therefore exist the somewhat anomalous position of American vessels enjoying a privilege denied to British, Japanese and Chine se vesacls, nevertheless claiming, while in the very act of exercising their special right, the hospitality and trade facilities of British, Japanese and /or Chinese ports. The position would, it is true, not be without precedents; Russian Volunteer ships trading in the reserved Black Sea- Vladivostok rute, used to touch regularly at British ports on the way, while Japanese vessels between Japan and Formosa occasionally call at Shanghat. But, however anomalous in principle, thest instances may be, nd however subversive of possible trade expansion, there were no long established British, or other, interests disrupted by this operation, and they can hardly be compared with the proposal under discussion for adverse effect on British interests and general disturbance of trade in the Far East.
Copy sent to Foreign office.
I have, etc.,
(31) Phones Farrington.
.. Consul-General.
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