CO129-381 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [11-12] — Page 222

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provided that certain well defined lines were not over-stepped as regards the public attitude which it was incumbent on a British Colony to adopt. This being so I wished them not to act as though they were conspirators in secret, but to freely consult me, and inform me of their proposed actions and if I thought in any case that they were over-stepping the lines I had indicated I would tell them so and suggest a better course. In short I invited them to regard me as a friend who could be freely consulted, and who would sympathise with their legitimate aspirations.

I tuen said that I had heard of the formation

of two Committees in the last few days, in connection with Canton affairs. So far as their object was to re-establish trade, and put an end to the ruinous stagnation of the last few weeks

they had my entire support. But so fer as they were concerned with the purely pálitical affairs of China, and were aimed at

promoting the Revolution, I considered that they should not have their domicile in Hongkong. The meetings of such Committees should take place in Canton. Chinese subjects who desired to attend them could do so there. I pointed out that & British Colony was identified with the British Government, and so long as the Manchu Government with whom we had treaties remained in

power at Peking, and no recognised new Government had been set

up, it would place the British Government in a difficult position if it could be alleged with truth that open and public support was being given in Hongkong to the Revolutionary Party, - not only could the still existing Goverment at Peking complain, but foreign Powers Japan, Germany a others would have cause of

complaint, and perhaps urge this as a reason for taking sides in

the present conflict even for taking side with the Imperial

Government against the new Party.- What I had said applied with

very especial force to any Chinese in any way comected with the

Coverament more especially the Chinese Members of Council.

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I had told them that I wished them to regard

me as a friend, in the difficult crisis, on the other nand I

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