strikers abriken
brought
out
absence of
an
Th
Gorsuer
Ada
Li-
half heated
and
Autre
only
ponos
promm
Caulon
The
anti- foreign feeling
marked
aud
but for
intimidation
kan would be
مال
strike.
¦
29th June,
1925.
453
Dear Hankinson,
I am afraid it is impossible for the Admiralty to promise the presence of a Cruiser at Hong Kong. The distribution of ships on the station must necessarily
be left to the discretion of the Commander-in-Chief, who
is now at Shanghai and is in touch with the Minister at Pekin as well as with Hong Kong. There are so many places
with important British communities which are entirely dependent on the Navy for protection that it is difficult to see how Hong Kong with its defences can substantiate a claim to the presence of a Cruiser. Of course it is
recognised that the situation at Canton is very tense,
but I am not aware that Hong Kong has anything to fear from that quarter, and there are Gunboats in the West River to help in the protection of Shameen. I do not
think a Cruiser could go up to Canton. No doubt as the
situation varies changes will be made in the disposition
of ships on the station and visits of Cruisers to Hong Kong may take place from time to time; in fact the "Brisbane" is on her way there now, and in that connection you have, no doubt, seen a telegram from Australia on the
subject