CO129-008 - Foreign Office - 1844 — Page 252

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

1RE concluding passage of it, I trust Your Lordship will pardon me for respectfully reporting, that I have, after full consideration, resolved not to make any Communication to the Portuguese Authorities until I am honored with Your Lordship's further Commands.

Your Lordship will, I doubt not, perceive that I could only make such a Communication to the Portuguese Authorities attended with an Admission, however carefully worded, that they were deemed to be entitled by Treaty to such assistance or interposition, although neither could be afforded without special Orders from England; and looking to the general tone and style of the local Government of Macao, and to the class of persons who compose the majority of the Members of the Senate, I am decidedly of opinion that a very dangerous use might, and most probably would, be made of such an admission, by divulging it — perhaps in intentionally vague or exaggerated terms — to the Chinese Authorities, thereby exciting their natural alarm and suspicion to the great injury of British Interests in this mighty Empire, in which the confidence of all ranks (from the Emperor downwards) in good faith and rigid observance of engagements is daily gaining ground, and in which, as I have had frequent occasion to remark, the commonest rules of international Law are utterly unknown.

In addition to this primary reason for withholding any communication to the Macao Authorities, I likewise humbly take leave to say — which I do with great deference to the legal Authorities whose opinion was sent to H.E. Lord Stanley — that I am forced by mature reflection to question the right of Portugal to call for our assistance or interposition between her and China, under any Circumstances. She does not hold, or pretend to hold, the semblance of Sovereignty over subjects of the Chinese Empire residing...

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1RE concluding passage of it, I trust Your Lordship will pardon me for respectfully reporting, that I have, after full consideration, resolved not to make any Communication to the Portuguese Authorities until I am honored with Your Lordship's further Commands. Your Lordship will, I doubt not, perceive that I could only make such a Communication to the Portuguese Authorities attended with an Admission, however carefully worded, that they were deemed to be entitled by Treaty to such assistance or interposition, although neither could be afforded without special Orders from England; and looking to the general tone and style of the local Government of Macao, and to the class of persons who compose the majority of the Members of the Senate, I am decidedly of opinion that a very dangerous use might, and most probably would, be made of such an admission, by divulging it perhaps in intentionally vague or exaggerated terms to the Chinese Authorities, thereby exciting their natural alarm and suspicion to the great injury of British Interests in this mighty Empire, in which the confidence of all ranks (from the Emperor downwards) in good faith and rigid observance of engagements is daily gaining ground, and in which, as I have had frequent occasion to remark, the commonest rules of international Law are utterly unknown. In addition to this primary reason for withholding any communication to the Macao Authorities, I likewise humbly take leave to say which I do with great deference to the legal Authorities whose opinion was sent to H.E. Lord Stanley that I am forced by mature reflection to question the right of Portugal to call for our assistance or interposition between her and China, under any Circumstances. She does not hold, or pretend to hold, the semblance of Sovereignty over subjects of the Chinese Empire residing... Page 249 NDEX
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1RE concluding passage of it, dhrust Your Lordship will pardon me for respectfully reporting, that I have, resolved __ after full consideration - not to make any Communication to the Potuguese Authorities untitl Jams honored with Your Lordships further Commands. Your Lordship will, I doubt not, perceive that could only make such a Communication to the Portuguese. Authorities attended with an Admission, however carefully worded, that they were deemed to be entitled by Treaty to such - - assistance or interposition, although neither could. be afforded without special Orders from England; and looking to the general, tone and style of the local Government of Macas, and to the class of persons who compose majority of the Members of the Senate, Ism devidedly of opinions that a very dangerous might, and most.. p. Billy would, be made of such an admission, by divulging it _ perhaps in intentionally vague or exaggerated terms _ to the & Kinese Authentics the Jam use 249 Authorities, thereby exciting their natural, alarmnd and suspicion to the great injury of British Interests in this mighly Impire, in whit the confidence of all ranks (from the Emperor downwards) Good faith and rigid, observance of engagements is daily gaining ground, and in which, as I have had frequent- In Fur The Fur occasion to remark, commonest rules of international. Law are utterly unknown. In addition to this primary reasons, very for with holding any communication to the Mação Authorities, Ilikewise humbly take leave to Say - which I do with great deference to the legal Authorities where opinion was sent to 1.0. Lord Manley _ that I am forced by mature reflection to question the right of Portugal to call, interposition belian her, for our assistance or and China, under any Circumstances _ She does not hold, or firebend to hold, the semblance of Sovereignty over subjects of the Chinese Empire residing NDEX
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1RE concluding passage of it, dhrust Your Lordship will pardon me for respectfully reporting, that I have, resolved __ after full consideration - not to make any Communication to the Potuguese Authorities untitl Jams honored with Your Lordships further Commands.

Your Lordship will, I doubt not, perceive

that could only make such a Communication to the Portuguese. Authorities attended with an Admission, however carefully worded, that they were deemed to be entitled by Treaty to such - - assistance or interposition, although neither could. be afforded without special Orders from England; and looking to the general, tone and style of the local Government of Macas, and to the class of persons who compose

majority of the Members of the Senate, Ism devidedly of opinions that a very dangerous

might, and most.. p. Billy would, be made of such an admission, by divulging it _ perhaps in intentionally vague or exaggerated terms _ to the & Kinese

Authentics

the

Jam

use

249

Authorities, thereby exciting their natural, alarmnd

and suspicion to the great injury of British Interests in this mighly Impire, in whit the confidence of all ranks (from the Emperor downwards)

Good faith and rigid, observance of engagements is daily gaining ground, and in which, as I have had frequent-

In Fur

The

Fur

occasion to remark,

commonest rules of international. Law are

utterly unknown.

In addition to this primary reasons,

very

for

with holding any communication to the Mação Authorities, Ilikewise

humbly take leave to Say - which I do with great deference to the legal Authorities where opinion was sent to 1.0. Lord Manley _ that I am forced by mature reflection to question the right of Portugal to call, interposition belian her,

for

our assistance or

and China, under

any

Circumstances _ She does not hold, or firebend to hold, the semblance of Sovereignty over subjects of the Chinese Empire

residing

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