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7.
I cannot see that the Chinese Government
will have any reasonable ground of complaint if this Govern- -ment now withdraws from the negotiations. They have shilly- -shallied with the matter for years and even now it is certain that their signature would be of little value owing to the practically independent position of the Government of the Kuang Provinces. If any such agreement is finally made it should only be after full discussion with the authorities at Canton and the signatory on the part of China should be a representative of a Government whose authority is recognised in the Kuang Provinces. A further point worth notice is that it was originally proposed that the agreement should be for five years only. If the agreement had been signed when this Government was ready to sign it, it would have expired by now after a period of five years during which it would have remained practically a dead letter. I certainly should not have agreed to its being renewed.
L
8.
I am sending a copy of this Despatch to
His Majesty's Minister at Peking.
I have the honour to be,
My Lord,
Your Lordship's most obedient,
humble servant
8. Stadts
Governor,&c..
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