In any further communication
on this subject, please quote
No. F 4248/194/10.
and address-
not to any person by name,
but to-
**The Under-Secretary of State,"
Foreign Office,
London, S.W.L.
sir:-
C.O.
40600
7 Sal 25
FOREIGN OFFICE.
S.W.1.
33
September 5th, 1925.
With reference to your letter No. 39024/25 of
H39014 August 27th, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain
to state that the situation at Canton is receiving his
careful attention and that he is most anxious to remedy
the serious position with which the Government of
Hongkong and the commercial interests of that colony
are confronted.
2. It would appear, however, that the so-called
government at Canton have informed His Majesty's Consul- General that they neither published nor approved the
"Coastal Navigation Rules" which are the subject of the
enclosure to your letter under reference. It is proposed shortly to test this denial by sending experimentally a
-
British steamer from Hongkong to Canton please see
Canton telegrams No. 16 of August 26th and No. 17 of
August 30th, copies of which have been forwarded to
your department. In the enclosure to your letter an
ultimatum to the Canton Government is recommended, but
Mr. Chamberlain is doubtful as to what action would be
appropriate were the ultimatum in itself to be without
effect. He doubts whether a blockade would do more than
provide anti-British propaganda for Canton and the rest
of China, and any more drastic action than a blockade he
is certain would have a most unfortunate reaction. It
must be remembered, too, that we are bound by the
Washington China Treaty to full and frank communication with the other powers concerned before taking any steps affecting the sovereignty and independence of China.
Any
The Under-Secretary of State,
Colonial Office.