CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909 — Page 293

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Japanese, American and German Colleagues, I gather that

the Viceroy's unexpectedly favourable pronouncement

on the "Fatshan" case, taken in conjunction with his

recont large donation to the Hongkong University,

considered to imply a diplomatic success for the British

in Canton, for which I am held in some measure reg-

ponsible.

are

The Portuguese Consul-General's difficulties

with the Chinese authorities are, I vonture to think,

largely attributable to his failure to keep on friendly

terms with the Viceroy.

He has not, to my knowledge, had one single

interview with the Viceroy since the "Fatehan" case

started, and on the one accasion when, at my suggestion,

he asked for an interview, five months ago, the Viceroy,

unfortunately, refused to see him.

I am convinced that had M. de Moraes, from the

outset, negotiated personally with the Viceroy with regard

to the trial of the watchman Noronha, a compromise

would