CO129-348 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [7-10] — Page 383

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incorporating the Administration in the Imperial Goverment

Telegraphs, and I referred to His Britannic Majesty's

Acting Consul-General at Canton for confirmation of these

notices.

4.

I enclose copy of the Acting

Consul-General's reply, dated the 18th. vltimo. ir. Fox

states that the Administration in question has never been

a bona fide commercial undertaking, but has always been,

both as regards finance and administration, under Govern-

-ment control, and he informs me upon the authority of

1

the Superintendent of Telegraphs at Canton, that the Board

of Communications in Peking have been instructed to take

over the administration of telegraphs throughout the

Chinese Empire, and that with this end in view the Board

have for some months past been negotiating with the share-

-holders in the Administration for the purchase of their

shares.

5.

In these circumstances, I consider

that the strong objections, felt by Sir M. Nathan to allow

-ing the Telegraph Administration to continue to operate

in British Territory, have gained in force. The legislation

proposed by my predecessor was in my opinion a good

solution, in view of the plea at that time put forward

that

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