i
you that in my opinion the defalcations were entirely due to
Mr. Milton's negligence.
But the conditions which I have
777
postulated are far from being the dude.
In my letter to you of the 20th September 1917, No. 1176/17
I wrote as follows:-
"The difference between the Chinese Post office and the agencies
Canton may be taken as a fair example.
The Consular Authorities considered that it would be
impossible to obtain a conviation against 3sa Tu in the Chinese
Courte, this question has however now only an academic interest, because 3m Ta has fled, and Canton is in such a state of chaos
that all Chinese Courts have ceased to function,
I wrote to the agent pressing most strongly for the rossoution of Sầu Tu but I had to bow to the opinion of men on
the spot that "in the present state of publie opinion in Canton the case was not likely to sucosed".
The man Si Tu was secured in the sum of $1,000 by an old man of over 70 years of age. He is quite maple to pay the amount bat is an honest old man and has paid in $100 a month for two months, I have ordered the agent to tell the old man that further payments are suspended until I have received your instructions.
The British are not very popular in Canton and I do not wish to reduce an honest old man to beggary simply because the agent had too much Consular work to do to permit him to supervisa Postal work.
Mr. Jallia the present agent is of course in no way concerned in these defalcations, They took plaas during the time of Mr. Milton's tenure of office or wars possibly handed on to hi¬
as a vicious legacy by his predecessor in office. Simge January 1921
up to date no less than three men have officiated as agents.
Had Mr. Hilton been in sole charge of the Agency and had he
had no other duties demanding his attention, I should have reported to
Jou
is almost pathetic.
There
the Chinese Post Office is housed in a modern up-to-date Post Office,
staffed with expert Postal officials and the Commissioner of Posts
draws a salary of 1,000 Taels a month with free furnished quarters
and handsome allowanIO BE. The British agency is housed in one dingy
room in the Consulate where three Chinese Clerks attend to the Fostal
business under such supervision as the Postal Agent, who has
multifarious duties as Consular assistant, may happen to be able to
give."
Everything I then said I believe to be doubly true to-day,
Mr. Milton had multifarious duties to attend to; Canton has for a
year past been bordering on chaos and the work of the Consular
officials has been ine: susedly laborious and exacting. Under the
ciraumat shoes I trust that the Postmuster General may see his way to
refrain from calling upon Mr. Milton to refund the money which has
been stolen.
Io. 25.
312.
I have the honour to be,
Your obedient Servant,
(Sgd.)
sir.
3.3.0. Ros
Postmaster General.
17th July, 1922.
With reference to my report dated 11th May on the Fostal
Agency at Canton, I have the honour to inform you that in accordance
with your instructions I left Hong Kong for Canton at 10. p.m. on
the
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