"Yet, in spite of everything," he continued, "we adhere to a policy of patience, and conciliation. We desire peace: We have no interest in China except to pursue peaceful occupations and trade, without me jury to Chinese liberties and interests. We do not want to obtain another inch of Chinese soil—we only seek such security as will enable our traders safely to pursue their lawful and peaceful oceupations.
"We cannot permit ourselves to bbe deprived forcefully of our treaty. rights, but we are ready at any moment, in a generous spirit, to negotiate with anyone able to speak for the Chinese people and make and fulfil engagements in their name, in order to adjust our old treaty rights to the new position and give generous satisfaction to the legitimate demands of the Chie nese for the development of their nationality and independence."
Concluding, Sir Austen expressed the hope that the British communities, and particularly the British press in China, would do their share in bringing home to the Chinese people the goodwill entertained for China, not only by His Majesty's Government, but by all their countrymen—the desire they all had to live in peace and feiondship with them—Reuter,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.