CO129-355 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1909 [1-3] — Page 329

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I feel sure, however, from the terms used in granting it that my own feeling of what is appropriate in the circumstances will be shared by Your Lordship and that you will concur with me that although I have been unable to entirely share the views in some questions of detail upon which the declared policy of His Majesty's Government is based, there is no need - and it would be contrary to the traditions of the Service to bring that divergence prominently forward.

My Despatches were written for Your Lordship's perusal and not for publication. I believed that in the matter of Divans especially, and of other matters in connection with this question Your Lordship was not in possession of the whole facts as they present themselves in this particular Colony, I was wholly convinced that when in possession of those facts Your Lordship would modify the views you had formed, and of necessity therefore my Despatch (and also the Memorandum) emphasized those points more particularly upon which the divergence of view existed. Your Lordship has informed me that you have been much impressed with my arguments, and you have been pleased to modify in two essential particulars the line of action which had first been proposed. The whole of the Divans will not be closed until the expiration of the present Contract with the Opium Farmer.