CO129-333 - Governor Nathan - 1906 [1-4] — Page 426

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Newspaper, who had been discussing with Mr. Wen, one of the

Viceroy's Secretaries, this matter of the coal seizure,

which was one that had created some interest in the Colony,

came to me to enquire if I had any objection to Mr. Fung

and Mr. Kwang going with him to Canton to meet the

Secretaries and reply to certain questions put to them

in the presence of the Consul-General. He had grounds for

believing that an arrangement might be thus come to closing

the incident which was much harassing the Viceroy. I had

no objection provided Fung and Kwang were willing to go

and provided the Bank's interests were in no way compromis-

-ed.

3.

The meeting was held on the 21st.

and on the evening of that day I received a telegram from

Mr. Scott to the effect that an agreement had been signed

by the Viceroy's three Foreign Secretaries on his behalf

and by Fung whereby the latter agreed to pay within three

months $28,000 due to Chou Tung Shang prior to the seizure

of the coal which the Viceroy undertook to restore

immediately to the Bank.

4.

I telegraphed on the following

day

the 22nd. instant

w

asking if the coal had actually

been