CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909 — Page 422

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of the launch "Tai An" in the colony, that she was not

registered or licensed there and that, so far as was known,

she had no right to fly the British flug.

This information I communicated to the Viceroy on

Decomber 16th., and, as montioned in my telegram first

referred to, I heard nothing more of the utter until the

stoamor "Tai On* ) arrived in Canton on the 2bch.

of that month under arrest.

I venture to draw your attention to three points

in the foropoing, narrative of the events which led up to

the seizure of the Tai On".

In the first place you will observe that the Viceroy

in both of his despatches calls for a join☺ investigation

into the collision case. The officers in charge of this

Consulate-General have time and again pointed out to the

Canton Viceroy that a claim for damgos brought against

a Pritish ship is not a case for joint investigation, and

I have myself more than once explained, both verbally

and in writing, to His dxcellency thang Jen Thun tho

morning of the term "jud Altunt* (§ |ā] as defined in

Section