CO129-117 - Public Offices - 1866 — Page 283

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

One of the senior members of the Legation, of which I am provisionally the chief, with immediate reference to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and I deemed it my duty at once to submit my views to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

It was a statement of my views respecting the larger questions at issue, which were sufficiently plain from the correspondence forwarded to me by Her Majesty's Government, and my objections to the course pursued by the Colonial Government in the discussion of these questions with Mr. Robertson's cooperation. I considered it my duty, I say, to write in the above sense to Earl Russell, and I should not have felt satisfied had I written to him without at the same time communicating with yourself.

Thank you.

[Sir Thomas Francis Wade to Sir Robert Hart]

Pekin. Sept. 17. 1865

In your despatch No. 137 of the 11th ultimo, I am in receipt of your despatch No. 8.

I should wish for some more exact information regarding the case to which I referred in despatch No. 2013 of the 19th July.

I enclose an extract from Mr. Mercer's Memorandum on the subject.

I may repeat my regret that you did not forward the dispatch handed to you for Mr. Mercer by the Canton Governor. Whatever may be the current opinions on the inexpediency of direct communication between a Colony and the Chinese Authorities, I cannot admit that, so long as the latter are content to correspond with the Colony, there is ground for a Consul considering himself relieved from all further interference.

I believe that it will in the end be found best for both parties that communications on international questions should pass through duly appointed international agents; but if the Chinese and the Colony choose on most occasions to do a sort of business direct, this does not...

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One of the senior members of the Legation, of which I am provisionally the chief, with immediate reference to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and I deemed it my duty at once to submit my views to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. It was a statement of my views respecting the larger questions at issue, which were sufficiently plain from the correspondence forwarded to me by Her Majesty's Government, and my objections to the course pursued by the Colonial Government in the discussion of these questions with Mr. Robertson's cooperation. I considered it my duty, I say, to write in the above sense to Earl Russell, and I should not have felt satisfied had I written to him without at the same time communicating with yourself. Thank you. [Sir Thomas Francis Wade to Sir Robert Hart] Pekin. Sept. 17. 1865 In your despatch No. 137 of the 11th ultimo, I am in receipt of your despatch No. 8. I should wish for some more exact information regarding the case to which I referred in despatch No. 2013 of the 19th July. I enclose an extract from Mr. Mercer's Memorandum on the subject. I may repeat my regret that you did not forward the dispatch handed to you for Mr. Mercer by the Canton Governor. Whatever may be the current opinions on the inexpediency of direct communication between a Colony and the Chinese Authorities, I cannot admit that, so long as the latter are content to correspond with the Colony, there is ground for a Consul considering himself relieved from all further interference. I believe that it will in the end be found best for both parties that communications on international questions should pass through duly appointed international agents; but if the Chinese and the Colony choose on most occasions to do a sort of business direct, this does not... Page 14
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¿ one of the Senior members of the derivie of which I am provisionally the chief with immediate denunciation to the in the main Secretary of State for the Colonies, and I deemed it any duty at once to tabuit my abruce to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs its a statement of my views exporting the larger questions at sure, which were sufficiently plans from the correspondence forwarded me by her the gobertom, and y muy objections to the course pursued by the Colonial Got in the disenfions of there questions with an Meer ocempuying dur Robertson's portion. I considered it my duty, Ssay, to write in the above sense to Eall Russel, Ishould not have felt satisfied had Iwritten to If I without at the same time Communicating with yourself. Thank (Squid]) Thomas Hancis Wade and Dobertson Sir 281 Pekin. Sept: 17. 1865 In 137 : 40 I am in receipt of your despatch 8. verf. the 11th ultimo I shḍ wish for Some more Exact information regarding the case to which I referred in des patol 2013 of the 19% July despatch Inclose A.c setust from Pur Mercer's Memorandure on the subject. hr may I repeat my regret that you did not forward the dispatch handed you for no mercer by the Canton foot. Whatever may be the crews Intertain reaps the inexpediency of direct Communication between a Colony & the Chinese. Authorities, I cannot admit so long as the latter are content to correspond wi with the Colony that there is ground for a Consul considering kimmelf relieved from all further interference. I believe that it will in the End be formed, best for both parties that communications on international questions shd pass through dut. appointed international agents; but if the Chinese & the Colony Choose on most occasions to do sort of their business direct, this does hop 14 not
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¿

one of

the Senior members of the derivie

of which I am provisionally the chief with immediate denunciation to the

in the main

Secretary of State for the Colonies, and I deemed it any duty at once to tabuit

my abruce to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs

its a statement of my views exporting the larger questions at sure, which were sufficiently plans from the correspondence forwarded me by her

the gobertom, and y muy objections to the course pursued by the Colonial Got in the disenfions of there questions with an Meer ocempuying dur Robertson's portion. I considered it my duty, Ssay, to write in the above sense to Eall Russel, Ishould not have felt satisfied had Iwritten to If I without at the same time Communicating with yourself.

Thank

(Squid]) Thomas Hancis Wade

and

Dobertson

Sir

281

Pekin. Sept: 17. 1865

In

137

: 40

I am in receipt of your despatch 8. verf.

the 11th ultimo

I shḍ wish for

Some more

Exact information

regarding the case to which I referred in des patol 2013 of the 19% July despatch

Inclose

A.c

setust from Pur Mercer's Memorandure on the subject.

hr

may

I repeat my regret that you did not forward the dispatch handed you for no mercer by the Canton foot. Whatever may

be the crews Intertain reaps the inexpediency of direct Communication between a Colony & the Chinese. Authorities, I cannot admit so long as the latter are content to correspond wi

with the Colony that there is ground for a Consul considering kimmelf relieved from all further interference. I believe that it will in the End be formed, best for both parties that communications on international questions shd pass through dut. appointed international agents; but if the Chinese & the Colony Choose on most occasions to do sort of their business direct, this does

hop

14

not

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