CO129-298 - Governor Sir Blake Administrator Major Gen Gascoigne - 1900 [3-4] — Page 252

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navigation has already been conceded, while in practice, as is so widely known, the concession has been rendered of no effect. The grounds on which this demand should be made are, therefore, first to secure us the reality of what has only been given, apparently, with intent to convert it into a sham: and secondly, that it is necessary to give security to trade, to the traders travelling and to the natives who form their

constituency.

At the present moment the greatest sufferers from these perpetual piracies are the native traders who carry on

the business with the foreign merchants. That they should

receive protection again lawless character is of supreme im-

portance, and it is the policy as well as the desire of the

British merchants to see that the peaceable portion of the

population is not disturbed or plundered.

Seeing, therefore, that the privilege suggested is but a means (and that an easy and practicable one) of secu-

ring a concession previously made, and that it will be the

means of conferring benefits on the whole of the districts

concerned, while at the same time yielding increased revenue

to the Chinese Government, the Committee are of opinion that

there should be no difficulty in obtaining it. They accordingly

hope that His Excellency the Governor will see his way to

make representations to this effect to the Right Honourable

the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

I have etc.,

(Sd.) R.Chatterton Wilcox,

Secretary.

Hon. J.H.Stewart Lockhart, C.M.G.

Colonial Secretary.