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577
EH!
PARAPHRASE TELEGRAM from the Governor of Hong Kong to
the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
Dated 31st December, 1923.
(Received Colonial Office 12.40 p.m. 31st Dec. 1923.)
When I used word faction in my telegram of 24th December I was following phraseology of minister's despatch of March 17th to me. He there agreed that it was "most undesirable that vessels of rival warring factions in China whether adhering to the cause of the central Government or not should be permitted to make use of the Colony as a refuge". It is stated that this
launch was captured by Admiral Wen Shute. As position at Swatow is incomprehensible I do not know what his political status is but it seemed to be a case of one faction against another even though one might be in
sympathy with the Government at Peking. This refera
to your telegram of December 28th secret and personal.
STUBBS.