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st

93

PUBLIC RECORD.OFFICE

Reference :-

TLHC.O.587

w

of absence, beyond the end of this month "(which I already had) to the end of year", "they replied that they did not know why going, I replied, "neither did I, so they said, "in the ignorance they

#

was

were

to China I

they

disapproved of my going replied, that I would not involve them,

and offered my resignation. At Galle,

the Government telegraphed your leave

is granted,

now.

"

so that is how matters stand

I had meant to have written Your

on the

Excellency

a

memorandum

question of the armament of China. Our Goverment will have to face this question ere long.

1.

Is it our policy, to help China to

mean

1 by help only

-organize her Forces, I me

countenance her in this direction. China

be

would never

accept,

nor would it desirable

for our Government to do more than countenance. N.B. A strong armed

China would be certain to be exer

every

extremely

Foreign nation,

independent towards she might denounce the opium trade.

2.

Supposing it is not the

policy

of our Government to countenance the

can we be organization of China's forces

1

sure she will not organize them, in spite of us, and will not the same result, an armed china, result." Again could we

Russia

assume

an

afford to let - ascendency at Pekin,

which would be the issue of Russian

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