CO129-396 - Public Offices - 1912 — Page 26

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Chinese. The Portuguese Goverment fear that such co-

operation between the British and Chinese forces would

seriously prejudice the sovereign rights which Portugal

claims over the island, and they have accordingly

instructed their Minister to express the hope that the

British authorities would refrain from taking any

active measures otherwise than in consultation with

the Governor of Macao, who on his part states that he

has sufficient troops at his disposal to deal with the

situation alone.

I am therefore to request that in order to obviete

any misunderstanding a further telegram may be sent to

the Governor of Hongkong instructing him to direct

that no steps may be taken except after fuli confulta-

tion with the Governor of Macao.

I sm,

Sir,

Your most obedient,

humble Servant,

Lan, bu

"