CO537-3709 — Page 49

1 had not received kuking telegram To. 16 of 27th Jomary, agreeing to the osramny being at the new Consulte, 1 vas at some pains to erghasise to him the importance of boldin: it at the oli site as this alone would, 1 argued, make plain to everyone that the Chinese Govern- ment did not carione in the action of the mob, Dr. Noong said he

would telegraph to the Hui Chiao Fu in the sense I desiret I asked him to do so at once am Your xcellency exsidered it important that the corony should not be delayed and be said that he would seni a telegram that evening. 1 reported this conversation in my talogram

No. 21 of 27th January.

On the 29th January Major-General Wang of the Municipality care to see me and stated new instructions had been received, namely that the first ceranny was to be at the new Consulate and the second at the old Consulate after the latter had been repaired. I asked him to let me hve the sctnl text as i me more than a little doubtful thi the second coremony should be so long delaysi. This he sent to me at mid-day end a few minutes after I received Hanking telegram No. 16 of 27th Jualary. I at once sent off my telegram No. 25 of 29th January reporting the receipt of this telegrum o. 16 and the receipt by the Enyor of identical instructions and I stated that I was arranging for the cerony to be held on 31st Junnzy. That afternoon when I called

upon the Mayor to make arrangonente, he agreed to the dete but maki that he had no power whatever to give orders to either troops or gan-- darmes and thất his own Folica were unable to present ame or for a gund of honour. I therefore visited Provincial ¡leadquarters and sew Ar. I. K. No as Dr. Foong was at a Conferenes. I told me. Ho vht the Mayor had said and requested him to ring me up in the morning and inform me that a garl of honour would be present.

7.

In the noming Fr, lo rang me up and stated that Dr. Soong insisted this mue purely a matter to be arranged by the Mayor ani the dai Chino Fu and he could take no art in it, Whether this was bequse his telegram on my behalf about the old site for the ceremony had received a reply stating that the bossy had previously agreed to the new site, thereby making him look rather foolish, or because he fe red the troops would object to forming such a guard, it is difficult to may.

As the fomor possibility existed, I felt that there was little I could do except visitor. . . to personally. However, he flatly refused to shift his position, aamerting that 1 mæt arrange mitters with the Knyor. I therefore proceeded to the Mayor only to receive the same reply as bafære, namely th÷ it was impossible for him to provide such a gun.

B.

In view of Your Excellency's teleṛram ¡o, 5, I sent my telegram Jo. 26 of 30th January stating that a gunt of honour would not be taŋviñed and requesting fresh instructions. On the moming of the 31st Jury, I received Harkin: telegram o. 24 in reply, stating that the Sinistry of Foreign Affairs were issuing instructions for the flag to be salu od by undfored Folice, I at once called upon the Mayor and it was arranged that the oɑrexxy should take place at 15.00 that day.

3.

The weather was bright and pod for the occasion und the Consuler body and British abjects turned up in force. The flag was pulled up from the ground to the top of the flagstaff on the roof of the new [remises, and as the flag got above the building, the wind caught it in a theatrically affective way. The police guard, consisting of twelve police, who were collected after the Mayor's arrival from point duty, served by their apre mace to simplify the mystery why much laxlesanose as the Chumsan incident is in this country possible.

10.

Dr. Philip Tyan!.