100
}
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in China, with the turbulence and rowdiness which
simultaneously manifested itself in this Colony, followed
immediately and has afforded me during the last two
months an opportunity of judgẳng of Mr Wodehouse's
capabilities of filling the post.
7.
On November 6th, the outbreak which I
described in my confidential despatch of November 23rd,
standing took place. I had already given emphatic/instructions
that the police should inform me direct by telephone of
any serious matter. Mr Wodehouse lives at the Central
Station and was there at the time. No intimation reached
me until the Private Secretary made enquiry as to the
cause of the deafening noise and shouting. I myself
judged it advisable that in a moment of such wild excite-
ment the Police should not attempt to enforce the law
prohibiting the use of crackers without permission, but
ar Wodehouse, though in telephonic communication with
the Frivate Secretary, took it upon himself to give these
-y orders without reference to me, or to the Colonial Secretar
and without informing me that he had done so. About 9 p.m.
I enquired where the Captain Superintendent of Police
was, and though I repeated the question at intervals
during the evening I only received the reply that the
Deputy Superintendent did not know and could not find
him; he was ignorent even where he lived. I then gave
r Wodehouse definite instructions to send out certain
Police patrols, and to let me know at once on the tele-
phone on the very first sign that the immense crowds
were getting out of hand or committing any breaches of
the peace, in which case I would request the General to
order out a military patrol. I remained in constant
communication with the Central the whole evening till
about midnight. Nevertheless, r Wodehouse, without my
knowledge
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