CO129-405 - Public Offices - 1913 — Page 316

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complicate the final financial adjustments; and that,

secrecy was most important in the interests of the

Chinese Goverment; that a reference to the question

had already appeared in the native press and that the

position would become extremely difficult if the negotia-

tions were prematurely disclosed, as prices would

certainly rise. Mr.Lu expressed his satisfaction and

declared that he would lay the facta before the

President on the 24th instant. In reply to his enquiry

as to a general idea of the amount of the stocks and

the sum necessary for redemption, I gave the number of

chosta as between 29,000 and 30,000 and placed the

purchase price approximately at £8,000,000, exclusive

of freight, insurance and other due charges for which

allowance would have to be unde. The stocks had boun

purchased at prices showing marked fluctuations, but I

reminded Mr.Lu that the auction prices were published

figures and that the Chinese oplum representative at

Calcutta was in a position to verify the exact figure for

each consignment. I added that I would instruct Er.

Wilton to into the question of figures with an officer

appointed