CO129-370 - Governor Sir Lugard & Public Offices - 1910 [12] — Page 37

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sudden emergency, and it must be noted that if a foreign

firm owned large coal depôts here with all the appliances

A

for coaling they might at any time secretly lay in stock .

^

of the best coal in anticipation of contingencies which

they might foresee. It would no doubt be preferable if this

trade were entirely in the hands of British Merchants, but

in time of war steps would of course be taken to effectual-

berna

-ly prevent any supplies of coaljavailable from depôts in

Hongkong for an enemy's ships, and it is only during the

period of strained relations antecedent to war that any

difficulty in preventing an enemy's ship from coaling

might arise. At such a time however it would be most im-

-probable that a Man-of-war would desire to take up

inferior Japanese coal.

12.

Ün careful consideration therefore

I see no reason why the present application shouldbe

refused, and as the Mitsui Bussen Kaisha are pressing for

reply I shall be obliged if you will telegraph your

approval if you concur with my view.

13.

The present case has, however,

led me to consider whether His Majesty's Government would

view with indifference the accumulation in this port of

large quantities of the best steaming coal for Naval vessel

in