CO129-433 - Governor Sir May - 1916 [5-6] — Page 39

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Mr. Imai did not deny the correctness of the

copy but questioned one or two minor items. He said there

must be a mistake in the character Yuen. He added that the word write (with Tsu Kan) did not make sense. He then attemp- -ed to argue that the Captain Superintendent of Police was not justified in reading his letter. But I think I satisfied him that he was quite justified in dealing as he had with an

open letter which no one would claim, He then said that both

contending parties in the Province had great confidence in him

- more than in his colleague at Canton and that he had merely been trying to bring about a peaceful settlement of the present disorder. I said that I quite appreciated his motives but I intimated quite firmly that placed as I was I could not permit

political intrigue of this nature in the Colony and I suggested

that he might either visit Canton or some other place in the

Province for a while or even exchange places with his colleague

in Canton.

-

Mr. Imai said that he would defer to my wishes.

I then questioned him as to the identity of

Yuen. He said the character had been wrongly copied and that

he was not sure who was meant, I gave him a copy of the letter

and he said he would look into this point.

4.

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On the 12th instant Mr. Imai called by appoint-

-ment and said that the character Yuen had been wrongly copied and that one Chau Shin-wan was meant - a great friend of the

Japanese Colonel. He said that the word write was wrong and

that he had meant "join with". I suggested unite and Mr.

Messer tells me that as the Consul General's handwriting is

not good it may have been that word. Mr. Imai then went on

to explain that his object had been entirely in the interests

of humanity. He had not engaged in any intrigue to stir up

trouble. He had wished to induce the persons engaged in the

present conflict to compose their differences. Otherwise the

disorder in the Province would take no end. He declared that

he did not know who the first Sham referred to in the letter

was.

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