CO129-445 - Public Offices - 1917 — Page 140

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Buch are the incidents which have come to my notice in the course of the current year, and time for the pre- sent the matter resta. I have heard nothing whatever of any attempt to threaten the water-supply of Macao.

Throughout the correspondence Mr. #ilton and myself, altough charged with Portuguese interests ad interim, have merely acted as tranmitters of the statements and views of the Colonial Government - the Chinese versions thereof being prepared by the Interpreter's Department in Macao. I am given, however, to understand that in the course of this month a Consul-General will arrive to take up the duties of Portuguese representative.

The resuscitation of the Boundary Commission has undoubtedly led the Provincial Government to take a more tnan ordinary interest in questions of this kind, and thiq energetic personality of the Civil Governor may have in- fused vigour into the correspondence, but I have so far no reason to suppose that a policy of veiled coercion is contemplated.

Should the Portuguese Legation take up the question with the Central Government, it might usefully point out

if that the local authorities are so anxious to see that Treaty provisions as to residence *inland' on the part of foreign traders are observed, attention might well be devoted to the Japanese commercial invasion of the province.

I have the honour to be,

sir,

Your most obedient, humble Servant

(Sd) Jw Jaucisson

Consul-General.