CO129-302 - Public Offices - 1900 — Page 690

612

680

No

Ws Habei

been here and ready, at the first report of the out-

break in the North, the trouble night, have been put

an end to at a very much earlier stage and with very

much less expense and risk. Such a force cannot be

improvised.

It must be organised beforehand.

We now beg of you to use your influence and au-

thority with the Government to induce thei, in addi-

tion to a strong garrison, to maintain in Hongkong as

their sole possession in China a fairly strong nove-

able column, available for instant erployment any-

where in China, properly supplied with everything

necessary to enable it to take the field at a moment's

notice as an independent autonomous force.

We ask for

it specially for the protection of British interests

We consider that

in South China and for a protection against French de-

signs on these Southern provinces.

unless some prompt declarations of policy are put

forth, and unless adequate measures are taken for giv-

ing effect to these declarations, that our long con-

nection with Canton and our paramount commercial posi-

tion

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