CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904 — Page 363

head of the Canton Police force was more than merely

cognizant of the intention to commit a murder in

British territory. He concluded by suggesting that

a demand be made for a sum of $20,000 for the widow

and family of the murdered man. In his despatch of

June 20th, 1903, he suggests that the amount should

be $50,000 for the widow and family.

I have not, however, found any explanation of the grounds on

which it was thought desirable to increase the com-

pensation to the widow and family. But apart from

the question of the amount of the claim, it seems to

me that the present Viceroy would certainly refuse

to pay either sum, and that, in the absence of di-

rect proof of the Provincial Government's complicity,

we could not enforce payment, while the mere demand

for its payment would prompt the Canton Government

to resist the request for a trial of the accused

persons even more determinedly than they might other-

wise do.

I am sending copies of this letter to His Maj-

esty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and

to the Acting Consul General at Canton.

(Signed)

I have &c

Ernest Satow.

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