CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909 — Page 507

800.

copy.

sir,

31604

RECR

Race 23 SEP 09

34725

505

(SEP 16 1909

Peking.

August 24, 1909.

jon.

1.86 /09.

In my despatch No.263, of July 21, I expressed the

grave misgivings with which I had learnt of the direct

negotiations entered into by Messrs.Butterfield and Swire

with the Self Government Society, with a view to the settle-

ment of the "Fatahan" case. That my apprehensions were

but too well-founded is proved by the terms now accepted

by the British firm, as reported in the despatch from the

Acting Consul General at Canton, copy of which I have the

honour to enclose. The humiliating nature of these terms

is self-evident and I need say no more than that I fully

concur in the views expressed by Mr.Fox, as also in those

contained in the despatch dated August 9th, on the same

subject, from His Excellency the Governor of Hongkong to

the Colonial Office. Sir Frederick Lugard is undoubtedly

in the right as to the urgent necessity of bringing pres-

sure to bear on the Chinese Government in order to procure

Right Honourable,

Sir Edward Grey, Bart. M.P.

1

#ts. etc. etc.

the