t
i
}
117
I had better first state the facte as far as I have
been able to ascertain them.
According to the Governor's report his attention
was drawn to the fact that Mrs.Haslewood was at that time
conducting her campaign, which included allegations of
widespread cruelty to mul taai, in terms which gave much
annoyance to the Chinese community. The Chinese have &
great regard for official position, and when an officer's
wife, with the encouragement of her husband, made attacks
of this character the Governor considered that there was a
danger that they might get the impression that the Government
approved the terms which were employed, and that thus a state
of ill-feeling towards the British Government would be created
which would be highly undesirable especially in view of the
unsettled state of South China. A Governor is both
entitled and bound to do all he can to restrain persons from
acting in a manner likely to disturb the peace of the Colony
for which he is responsible. In these circumstances the
Governor had decided to ask the Secretary of State for the
Colonies to request the Admiralty to move Lt.-Commander
Haslewood to another station, but on further consideration,
not wishing to damage Lt.-Commander Haslewood's professional
prospects,
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