ranslation.
Counsellor Tyau (Wai Chizo Pu)
ide-Vemoire.
to Vr. Harding.
July 9th. 1919.
523
With reference to the ouse of the warship "Kunngli"
it will be remembered that an officer was sent from this Ministry to interview His Majesty's Legation on the subject.
A communication has now been received from Inspecting
Commissioner Lung, who states that, according to a report received from the officer second in command of the warship "Chiang Kung" who remained at Hongkong, the Governor of Hongkong on May 6th, suddenly sent an officer of the Nater Police to his vessel to inform him that in view of the Kuang- tung Government's having demanded the vessel's return to that Province the entire personnel were immediately to leave it. Xxpostulatory argument failing repeatedly to move th foreignofficer, General Lung's informant had no course but a
He had disembark together with the rest of the personnel.
now engaged legal assistance and was taking the matter up in the British Courss at Hongkong. The Hongkong Authorities
that an officer sent moreover state, the officer continued,
by the Kyangtung Government had described the Central Govern- ment as having consented to the rendition to Kuan; tung of the vessel in queation and that this was the ground on which their action was taken, but that, should telegraphic repres- entations be made to them by the Central Government, they are prepared to undertake to demand the vessel's return, statement in this sense signed by the volonial Secretary was
also given.
'
A
This Ministry have the honour to state that the warship "Chiang Kung" and "Xuangli" are both in commission under
the Central Government, which has given no consent to their rendition to the Government of Kuangtung, and the statements of the officer sent by the Kuang tung Government are all con- trary to the facts. It has the honour therefore to reques
that, for the a.ke of the amity between our Governments,