:
20
C. O.
34
IMMEDIATE.
CONFIDENTIAL. Paraphrase of Telegram.
The Governor of Hongkong to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
(Received Colonial Office 9.45 p.m.9th September, 1912)
7.0.
28162
I sent Colonial Secretary to Macao invite Portuguese co- operation before you sent me the telegram of 5th August. I had previously communicated with Chinese Authorities; they would not
agree to landing of British troops, but gladly accepted our navel co- operation. I suggested to the Portuguese that it was desirable that Chinese troops only should land owing to danger of troops of two nations meeting on landing, and I undertook to stipulate with Chinese Authorities that the Portuguese would not thereby prejudice their claim to the island. (Two groups indecipherable) Portuguese assistance (?by) water and to preventief pirates' escape to their territory. Governor of Macao protested that there are no pirates in the disputed territory and he claimed to land Portuguese only if there must be expedition. He also declined British Men of War. On August 7th with the permission of the British Consul General at Canton I sent Halifax to arrange with the Chinese authorities for a joint Portuguese and Chinese expedition. I told him to withdraw offer of British men-of-war in order to simplify and facilitate arrangements. The Chinese authorities are willing to come to any arrangement which included landing of the Chinese troops. They and Halifax are going to Macao tomorrow to endeavour to arrange matters. information corroborates my own that the island is infested with
Chinese pirates. The Governor of Macao is excitable and difficult to deal with.
It will be necessary that he should receive definite instructions from Lisbon to make arrangement with Chinese for prompt
I suggest that in the event of joint landing of troops persons who are arrested by either party should be dealt with by the party making the arrest.
measures.
MAY.