Losure 4.
Alovure
their stocks. To this the firms in question raised no serious objection and the transfer of stocks has been satisfactorily carried out.
8.
I enclose copy of a letter dated 11th.
53
December which I addressed to His Britannic Majesty's Consul- -General, Canton, for communication to the Tu Tu, copies of Mr. Jamieson's replies dated 15th. and 16th. idem and copy of a further letter from myself of 20th. December which speak for themselves.
9.
On 30th. November Mr. Ray, a British subject
and a broker, called on the Colonial Secretary and stated that he had been approached by the Republican Government at Canton to charter ships for the transport of troops to North China, presumably for an attack on Peking but that he did not wish to take any steps to which I might object. In reply to a question he said that he believed the intention of the Government was to charter British and failing them Norwegian vessels and to ship vià this Port. Mr. Ray was informed in reply that in no case would shipment of troops for such a purpose through the waters of the Colony be permitted and that if the intention was to avoid Hongkong waters and steam straight out to sea, although this Government was not in that case affected, Mr. Ray should consult His Britannic Majesty's Consul-General at Canton. On 8th.
December the news which had already reached me was confirmed by Mr. Jamieson that the troops would be conveyed in vessels of the
China Merchants Steamship Company (a Chinese Company). I intimated
that I should not allow them to enter the harbour and I requested
the co-operation of the Naval Authorities in the matter. I sub-
sequently learned that one vessel had sailed in the early morn- -ing of 10th. and another early on 11th. December. I accordingly requested Mr. C. Clementi and Mr. Wei Yuk to proceed on His Majesty's Ship "Taku" to Capsuimoon in case either vessel might endeavour to make the Harbour. Neither in fact made any such attempt. I took these precautions,, because on the one hand, the
Peking
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