Correspondence on Canton's delay in nominating suitable merchant to take charge of Chinese Telegraph Office, and on the apparent detention of Marshal Li Chai-sum in Nanking; discovery of communist plot in Canton, leading to arrests and executions; declared inability of Chu [Shao-hsin] to take any action on Telegraph Office issue during absence of Li Chai-sum; discussion on imposition of 20 per cent surtax in Kwangtung and on attitude of Customs towards it collection; discussion by Corps Diplomatique on this surtax, which they might regard as a local levy, but which could not be collected by Customs; political report on situation in Canton; Barton has no evidence that Li Chai-suin is being detained in Nanking; details of discussion between Lampson and Liang Shih-yi on proposed flotation of a 250 million dollar loan by Nanking; report by Lampson of suggestion by Peking that the Chinese Telegraph Office be handed over to the cable company; suggestion by Foreign Office that Customs might take voluntary payments of surtax; discussion on situation in Nanking as regards foreign inspectorate service for salt revenue collection and repayment of foreign loans; political report on situation in Canton and rumoured impending return of Li Chai-sum; nomination by Canton of Kong Siu-lui to take charge of Chinese Telegraph Office; postponement by Nanking of discussions on tariff proposals; report on negotiations over appointment of manager for Chinese Telegraph Office; return of Li Chai-sum to Canton; Lampson's opinion that Telegraph Office should be closed rather than put under control of a canton merchant; political report on situation in Canton, following Li Chai-sum's return; report on conference between Marshal Li Chai-sum and Clementi [Item 1], with a copy of China Land Tax; The Inspector General's Suggestions re Collection, etc., Peking, 1904 [Item 2]; military report; political report on changes of Canton Government officials; request by C.F.A. for Consuls to announce imposition of 20 per cent surtax [in Canton]; details of stamp taxes being enforced on alcohol in Canton; decision to regard C.F.A.'s request to Consuls as application for consent of Corps Diplomatique.