CO129-388 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1912 [1-2] — Page 70

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3.

Limited, however, as the functions of the Governor necessarily are in regard to H.H's troops, you will not I trust consider that I overstep those limits in forwarding to you and commenting on the enclosed despatch from the General Officer Commanding; for I venture to think that too rigid a disclaimer of respon- sibility, and a refusal to touch a matter which does not at this stage directly fall within my official duties, might, conceivably eventuate in serious disadvantage to British interests, including those of this Colony. I would therefore desire to supply a little further detail in the "concrete case

4.

outlined by the General.

Some few days ago a reliable clerk in the service of this Government travelling on a Macao steamer overheard a discussion between two men (to whom he was invisible) and whom he judged from their conversation to be "officers" of the Pirate and Robber bands who, to the number of 10,000 to 40,000,now occupy Canton under the aegis of the Revolutionary Government, who claim them as

recruits in the cause of liberty. The discussion turned

on the feasibility of looting the coneession at Shameen

by a sudden rush. The plotters stated (with truth) that

there was there an enormous treasure, they said that they

could easily bring 10,000 men to the attack and if 800 or

so were killed there would be all the fewer claimants for

the loot. They apparently desired to put the plan into

operation.

5.

The clerk informed me of what he had heard

and I at once warned the Consul General, and gave the in-

formation to the General Officer Commanding and the Commodore

also informed the Manager of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank and suggested to him that he should lose no time in removing the specie, and should do so in as open and public

a mariner