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PARAPHRASE.
(d)
Enclosure 4 in to
Telegram o Foreign OfficeNo. 5.
From: H.M.Consul General Canton..
Despatched February 2nd 1926. 2.p.m.
*
120
Consultation with H.M.Minister and Governor of
Hongkong being impossible at such short notice, I have
boon directed by former to comment independently
on your telegram No. 35 to Peking. My comments are as
follows:-
1. I deprecate war which would leave legacy of hate and
might unite rest of China.
2.
No solution other than joint international
action appears to me to be possible. It would be intere nationally impossible to undertake indertake independent
action on the lines indicated.
The Cantonese have arrested British subjects
and have prevented us from carrying on trade, thereby breaking most flagrantly both the letter and the spirit of the Treaties. I am decidedly of opinion that action
under article 7 is called for. There would be no
difficulty about detaining Russian ships, but it must be borne in mind that essential commodities (e.g.rice
and coal) are not transported in these vessels.
3
I do not think it desirable to depart from the policy of non-intervention. Kuangtung has never had a better Government than the present one, and chaos would result from the entry of others on the scene. It is quite likely that Chiang may quarrel with the Bolshevists
in the near future without outside influence.
25
I cannot express opinion.