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Paraphrase of Cypher Telegram
From Secretary of State for the Colonies.
To Governor, Hongkong -
Date 9th December, 1914.
Enclosure 1.
215
3941
REC Wed 25 JANIT
The German Government claims to have reports from
reliable private sources, which state that the treatment of German civilian prisoners in Hongkong is very unseemly, and that they are forced to work like coolies and to clean streets and gutters. I assume that the reports have no foundation, but it is advisable to obtain corroboration from the United States Consul, as the German Government threaten
retaliation.
HARCOURT