t
2766
100`
imperilling our future trade relations with China
as in the case of actual hostilities in Kuang-tung, with the added risk of friction between the
principal Maritime Powers and Great Britain. We
do, however, think that it would be of advantage
to press the representatives of the principal Maritime
Powers in London very strongly to take concerted
action now, It was suggested in my telegram of
嚚
the 26th January that the League of Nations might
be induced to censure the Canton Government for its
defiance of treaty rights, and that, should such
censure be ignored, the Maritime Powers might agree to boycott Kuang-tung until the anti-British boycott in Kuang-tung is removed. We are also of opinion that action should be taken under article No. 7 of the Washington Nine Power Treaty in view of the following facts:- (a) British merchants are not allowed to trade with Canton: (b) other nationals are allowed to trade with vanton provided they do not sell british gooda: (c) British shipping is denied facilities at anton: (d) the shipping of other nationals is granted facilities at Canton, provided that it avoids Hongkong and does not carry British goods. If concerted action were agreed upon by the principal Maritime Powers, there would be no difficulty in intercepting and detaining Russian ships. In fact, as you will see from my 24670 telegram of the 6th "ecember, Admiral Sir E. (Al Alexander-Sinclair has informed me that the patrol
द
of the West River delta instituted prior to last December by Admiral Li Ching-hai prevented several Russian
ships from reaching Canton.
It is certainly the case that Canton
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7.
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has
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