CO129-291 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [5-6] — Page 530

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franslation.

Sir,'

Viceroy Tan to Consul Mansfield.

C.O.

16557

RECO

براهیم

REGO 27 JUN S

April 25rd., 1899.

522

I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of

your despatch, incorporating one received from the Governor of

Hongkong, in which B. Sa states that our views are diametrically

opposed with regard to the question of the removal of the Customs,

the decision of which rests with the Governments of our respective

countries.

I, personally, have no "view" with regard to

the question, I only take my stand on the fact that the original

Convention does not mention the removal of the Customs. If the

Governor of Hongkong, is bent upon the removal, he is going back

upon the Convention. If B. S. argues that the question must be

left to our respective Governments to settle, then the receipt ty

me, on three occasions, of telegrams from the Tsungli Yamen, all

stating that the removal must not take effect, proves that the Chinese

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