CO129-113 - MacDonnell - 1866 [5-6] — Page 334

guilty of Burglary and Robbery on Chinese

territory.

J

333

been seriously compromised, had I refused to deal with the question.

2.

I need scarcely say

how entirely

I concur in the opinion expressed in the

closing paragraph of your despatch

No 3 of the It th December as to the 7.0.

advisability of avoiding raising any

71694/15

questions

on

that subject pending probable

th

negociations therem at Pekin.

would however have been utterly impossible to have avoided dealing

with this last case, the evidence was

so clear

and the absence of all political

motivo for pursuing the Criminal-was

so

palpable- that the good faith of ther Majesty's Government might have

No1

th April 1866.

3

I therefore devoted myself to

a

certainly

ensuring for the prisoner of a fair trial- and to obtaining from the Nece Roy of Guanting for more distinct and positive pledges againit

the use

Or

of torture whether before - during -

after trial, than had hitherto been obtained from any.

Chinese Authority

In that respect I think the case has been unquestionably turned to a good,

burpose.

Н.

The Original application for

oner uUA

somewhat

renditions of the prisoner