CO129-382 - Public Offices - 1911 — Page 105

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remarks, prefacing them by the statement that from the very

beginning I have kupt the Legation fully informed of evory

step I have taken in this matter, end that consequently

at any stage immediate intervention, should such have been

called for could have ensued. The gravamen of the indict-

+

ment against me would appear to be an allegation that I

have surrendered a position successfully contested by my

predecessors. The fact howover, that since they had to

+

fight the battles of the opium importer, conditions have

undergone a complete change, is immured. Before China under-

took to suppress opium any tax on the prepared form of

that dru invariably formed subject of legitimate and

as

successful protest, in mich as the incidence of antecedent

taxation on its native constituents was an unknown quantit),

and that it was a matter of practical certainty that its

foreign constituents would under any circumstances be sub-

ject to differential treatment.

Now that, contrary to universal expectation,su m.ch