CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909 — Page 206

Viceroy gives an evasive reply (helosure No. 0) to my

204

complaints of newspaper misrepresentations. This is the only

official communication I have received from Hie Äxcellency

since the day the "Fabshan" arrived: he has issued no

proclamation nor has he expressed, either to me or to the

Portuguese Consul, any opinion on the result of the enquiry.

In unclosure No. 9 I forward copies and translations

of typical oxtracts from articles in thu vernacular prese

deuling with the "Tatshan" affair.

A poruesl of the correspondence above referred to

muy surest to you certain points with regard to my 108-

ition in this case requiring explanation. I venture to place

bafore you some of the considerations which prompted my

action in the mattor.

.

I allowed the Namhoi agistrate and one of the Vice-

roy's deputies to hold an informal inqueet on board the

"Patshan" for two reasons, firstly because I hoped that an

inquest held on board would attract less attention than one

held on the wharf, and secondly because I knew that by

Chinese law en inquest whereever possible must be held un

the