CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909 — Page 217

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I have reason to know, was the fact that no Court, Chinese

or foreign, would have recorded a conviction on the ey

idence brow ht forward in the cas0.

It is, moreover, within your knowledge that for

many weaks in December and January last I used my boat

endeavours to effect a compromise in the matter between

the Chinese and Portuguese Authorities, and that I only

desiatod when it uses became evident that the task I had

set myself was a hopeless onc.

My last move in the matter was to persuade my

Portuguese colleague to ask for an interview with the

Vicoroy, at which the former wa quite prepared to make

certain concessions. This interview was refused, and from

that date onward the question of a fresh enquiry at the

Portuguese Consulate has by mutuel consent been allowod

to drop.

You will, I think, agree with me that under the

circumstances my intervention at the present juncture

would be fruitless and might quite possibly lead to a

recrudescence of the agitation which the authorities

concerned