CO129-328 - Governor Nathan - 1905 [1-6] — Page 255

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for sale at Macao. This has been considered necessary in spite

of Macao regulations against the sale of arms to persons in

China and in spite of the assurance of the Macao Government

that sales were only allowed to meet the legitimate require-

ments of the trade of that Colony. I have had occasion within

the last two weeks to refuse an application for the export of

a considerable quantity of rifles and cartridges for sale at

Macao on the ground that the supplies already obtained during

the current year were sufficient to meet the reasonable re-

trading from that place quirements of junks and fishing craft for their protection

against pirates. I made it clear that no imputation was cast

by the refusal upon the Goverment of Macao, but I pointed

out that that of Hongkong was bound to consider its obligations

to China and that in the absence of figures justifying the

abnormal requests for permits to export arms and ammunition

to Macao,

and in the face of current rumours that a consider-

able contraband trade was carried on by Chinese junks and

fishing boats from that port, I was unable for the present to

accede to the request that had been made.

7.

A

I venture to think that this Government

does all that is in its power to do to prevent the smuggling

of arms and munitions from the Colony into China, and I can

only assure you that its efforts to assist the friendly

Goverment of China by such prevention will not be relaxed.

I am communicating a copy of this Despatch

8.

to Sir Ernest Satow.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient

Humble servant,

M. hathaw

Governor, &c..