'.A.C. 26/3 r.Ellis 26/3
Ellio
PARAPHRASE TELEGRAM from the Secretary of State for the
Colonies to the Governor of Hong Kong.
(Sent 8.30 p.m., 26th March, 1926.)
48
Priority. Repeat to Canton and Peking.
ir G.Grindle
26/3
..H.W. at once. 26/3/26
on by Sec.of ate. S.H.W. /3/26.
nsideration v. nute.
my paraphrase
F.0. LF. Secret. ith copy tele- am 25 March.
later.
30-3
一炉
Secret. Canton situation. I have been in consultation with Foreign Office regarding your telegram 23rd March and what follows is the result of our dis- cussion in the light of your further telegram of the 25th March and of Peking telegrams Nos. 129 and 133.
(1) We do not consider that it would be expedient at this juncture to present formally claim for damages. But you may intimate in course of negotiations, if you wish, that His Majesty's Government are considering such a claim in the event of a settlement not being speedily reached.
There would be no objection to a protest against violation of treaty rights but if such protest is made in the form of a note on lines proposed in your telegram of 4th March it is suggested that
(a) Some phrase such as "Government actually
exercising authority in Canton" should be substituted for the term "de facto Government" in paragraph 4. While the latter term is not inaccurate it has been so much canvassed lately that it might seem to imply some further measure of recognition.
(b) Appeal in paragraphs 2 and 3 should be simply to Treaties of Nanking and Tientsin or even to Treaty rights in general and reference should not be made to specific articles of the Treaties.
(2) Loan question. The following serious difficulties present themselves.
(i)