his conversation with myself: he added that he had
often wished to inspect the slaughter-houses in
Chinese territory but that he could not very well
ask for permission to do so officially and that if
he went privately he would in all probability be
refused admission, which might result in trouble
arising.
As a result of enquiries which I made at the
American Consulate-General I ascertained that the
Health Department of the United States of America
had definitely refused to accept the Bureau's certi-
ficates for food-stuffs, but that the Philippine
Government accept Dr. Evangelista's certificates
although the American Consulate here had warned the
Government that in their opinion Dr. Evangelista
was not to be relied on.
The opinion of merchants with whom I have dis-
cussed the matter is that the Bureau is merely a
pretext for collecting fees and exporters of casings,
for instance, inform me that no proper examination
is made and that a certificate is readily granted
on payment of a fee.
From my personal contact with Mr. Tsou and the
other heads of Departments I have gained the impres-
sion that they themselves are capable and earnestly
endeavouring to improve the standard of native
products and that they are therefore entitled to
sympathetic consideration.
But it is obviously
impossible
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