[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government, and should be returned to the Foreign Office if not required for official use.)
CHINA.
POLITICAL.
Decode.
Sir R. Macleay, (Peking)
2251 December, 1923.
690
No. 284.
D. 8.p.m. 22nd December, 1923.
R. 7.40.p.m. 22nd December, 1923.
(3).
My despatch No. 485.
10
Another revenue launch belonging to Salt Gabelle
which was recently captured or rescued from Canton
authorities by Admiral Wen, who after helping southern
cause with a portion of fleet has now apparently returned
to his allegiance to Central Government, has been
delivered to salt representative at Hong Kong who has approached Governor with a view to its interment. Governor has written to me officially that he regards
action of Salt Gabelle in sending launch to Hong Kong a.s 'an outrageous piece of insolence and effrontery and that he finds it "difficult to believe it can have
boen done with any other purpose than to embroil this government with Canton government and thus commit Great Britain to taking sides la faction fights of Chinese". He requests me to protest against this affront to his government and to call on Salt Gabelle
to remove launch immediately. If she is not removed within a week he will request authority to send her to
Canton.
I have replied that I camot take action desired
without...
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