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While it is obvious that the strike still continues to be such a considerable political and economic reality as to make any denial of its existence appear at once evasive and futile, my Government-averse from any view of your reply that may lead to a fresh impasse and desirous that the issues involved shall be frankly and resolutely faced— is prepared to authorise its delegates also to negotiate with the official representatives of the Hongkong Government or any other duly appointed representative of the British Government regarding the manner and means of settling the anti-British boycott, which has been sustained by the Chinese people in Kwangtung for precisely a year.
If the forthcoming negotiations are to be undertaken seriously, it is essential to clear up two points arising out of your reply. When handing the reply to me, you explained that a rule of the British Imperial Service debarred the Governor and Govern- ment of Hongkong from direct communication with my Government or any other foreign Government. As this rule seems to apply, a fortiori, to representatives appointed by the Governor and or Government of Hongkong, I.am to ask you to inform me whether the representatives named in your despatch will negotiate as members of a purely Hong- kong delegation or as members of a British Imperial delegation.
The other point relates to the powers of the British delegates. In my note to the Governor of Hongkong, I stated that my Government was prepared to appoint three delegates with plenipotentiary powers and I indicated the wish of my Government that your delegates might be vested with equal powers. I am to repeat this wish with the reservation that any settlement reached by the delegates shall be subject to the usual ratification by the respective Governments.
I am, etc., etc., etc.,
J. FITZGERALD BRENAN, Esquire,
H. B. M. Acting Consul-General,
The Shameen.
No. 5.
(Sd.)
CHIÊN YUJÊN,
Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs.
SIR,
H. B. M. CONSULATE GENERAL, CANTON, June 25th, 1926.
In reply to your letter of June 21st, I have the honour to inform you that the British delegation, which has been appointed to negotiate a settlement of the anti-British trouble arising in this province, will primarily represent the Hongkong Government, but that I have been made a member of the delegation so that the negotiations may include the anti-British boycott throughout the province, together with any other cognate questions which the Canton Government may wish to raise.
The Hongkong delegates will be sent with plenipotentiary powers as regards matters relating to the Colony, and I, in addition to my ordinary authority as Acting Consul-General, have been given by His Majesty's Government reasonable discretion in consultation with the Hongkong delegates to negotiate an agreement.
Your reservation that any settlement reached by the delegates shall be subject to the usual ratification by the respective Governments is noted and is accepted by the British authorities concerned.