PARAPHRASE TELEGRAM from the Secretary of State for the
Colonies to the Governor of Hong Kong.
(Sent 8.30 p.m., 26th Varoli, 19:6.)
51
Priority. Repeat to Canton and Peking.
Secret. Canton situation. I have been in
consultation with Forei-n Office regarding your tele÷ram
23rd Kareb and what follows is the result of our dis- cussion in the light of your further telegram of the 25th Larch and of Peking telegrama Rom. 129 and 133.
(1) ⚫ do not consider that it would be expedient at this juncture to present formally claim for dama ́on. But you may intimate in course of negotiations, if you wish, that is Lajesty's Gevermont are considering such a claim in the event of a settlement not being
speedily reached.
There would be n- abjection to a protest against violation of treaty rights but if such protest is made in the form of a nɔte on lines pronosed in your telegram of 4th Baroh it Is su zasted that
(a) Some phrase such as "Government atually exercising authority in Canton' should be substituted for the term "de facto ¡overnment" in parazrash 4.
hile the latter tere is not in«ccurate it has been so mich canvassed lately that it mi ht seem to imly some further measure of reconition.
(b) Appe:】 in nart The 2 and 3 should be simly to Treaties of Nankin and Tientsin or even to Treaty ri-ute la zeneral and reference should not se made to
specific articles of 'he Tre ties.
(2) Lean queation. "he following serious difficulties "resent themselves.
(1)