denied them
+
4
to deal with. In order to gain European confidence
& sympathy he intends to draw no lign between
foreigners & Chinese or between Christians &
non-Christians. He will treat all alike. He
will try his best to gain the Reformers, & win
them over but if he cannot succeed in winning
them over he will try to treat them in such a
way that they will not hamper his scheme of
defence & the maintainance of peace.
He does not intend to make known the death of the
Emperor even if he knew it to be a fact
because that would take away the last hope of China,
& everybody would be scrambling for the throne.
He will if invited to keep order even as
temporary head until the powers agree to a new
sovereign but for him to select a man would be
a task very much against his personal tastes.
He asked if the Governor of Hongkong would permit
him to perchase arms & what his opinions were
on the present crisis. I told him that the
Governor considered the position one of great
gravity. His Excellency wishes to organise a
police force for Canton on the same lines as
Hongkong, that is formed of Europeans, Japanese
Sikhs & Chinese as he says Chinese police are
no good they only think of squeezing. He is
anxious to know if the British Government would
allow him to engage Sikhs. He has a number of Hapanese in his employment at present. He has sent a number of soldiers to the Bogue forts but very quietly so as to avoid excitement & he is sending
71
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.