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I find it difficult to write of this case in
temperate language. That the employees of a Government
office should be free so to abuse their position is well-
nigh incredible. In arresting Low Peng Kiah and extorting
money from him, the Opium Suppression Bureau acted without
the slightest shadow of right or justice, or of regard for
the Treaties; but, replying on the strong desire of the
British Government to avoid controversial questions and to
re-establish friendly relations, they committed an act of
which I should have thought only bandits could have been
guilty. In any civilized country such an incident would
be regarded as quite intolerable, and would result in the
instant dismissal from office of the guilty officials and
their severe punishment. But so far as I am aware, no
action whatever has been taken in the matter, and the Opium
Suppression Bureau is left to enjoy its ill-gotten gains.
During the last two years I have constantly had
to complain of outrages by communist organisations, against
the persons and property of my nationals. Apparently the
Government, having suppressed those organisations, now
intends to adopt their methods. Their action first in
seizing Low Peng Kiah's foreshore and withholding from him
the use thereof, then illegally expropriating his land on
the pretext of making roads, and now by threats and duress
extorting from him a large sum of money, forces me to the
conclusion that they are deliberately persecuting Low Peng Kiah, as they have before persecuted other British subjects
in Swatow, in defiance of justice and Treaty provisions.
The Nationalist Government have claimed that they
are a civilized modern Government, competent to exercise jurisdiction over foreigners. May I enquire how you
reconcile
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