CO129-333 - Governor Nathan - 1906 [1-4] — Page 377

irs. Watts, Watta & Co.,

SiTB.,

COPY.

Whitington Avenue

E. C.

LONDON. E. C.March 15th 1906.

"POWHATAN" S

374

In accordance with your instructions we telegraphed our

how friends on the 7th. inst. that you had fixed this steamer for

carriage of 500 coolies from Foochow to Santa Rosalia (Mexico). On the

lowing day we received a message from our Hong Kong friends to the effect

a British Steamer could not take any contract labourers. After

her negotiations, however, with the authorities in Hong Kong and

show we received a further message that if the steamer proceeded to

Kong, and there obtained a Hong Kong passenger certificate, the

tish Consul at Foochow would allow the steamer to carry the coplies

question.

In view of this message we are very surprised to receive a

ther cable from Foochow this morning as follows:-

"The Govenor of Hong Kong has cabled the British Consul at Foochow, "cannot take (contract labourers) to foreign countries, therefore "useless for the steamer to come here, unless the Govenor of Hong "kong is wrong or Owners get permission from the Government. For your "guidance the Chinese Goverment sanctions this business, we will "tak up the matter further wi‍th the Govenor of Hong Kong,mean time "do your utmost with the Foreign Office"

We are Dear Sirs.,

Yours faithfully,

For Dodwell & Co. Ltd.,

(sgd) Stanley H. Dodwell.