[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
64
[November 11, 1926 ]
SECTION 2.
No. 1.
Acting Consul-General Brenan to Sir Austen Chamberlain.-(Received
[F 4776/1/10]
(No. 91.) Sir,
November 11.)
Canton, October 1, 1926. WITH reference to my telegram No. 46 of the 30th ultimo, I have the honour to enclose herewith for your information a copy of a despatch from the Governor of Hong Kong, dated the 27th September, 1926, and of my despatch to the Governor of Hong Kong, dated the 1st October, 1926.
Enclosure 1 in No. 1.
I have, &c.
J. F. BRENAN.
PO
57
Sir C. Clementi to Acting Consul-General Brenan.
My Dear Brenan,
Hong Kong, September 27, 1926. I SEND herewith a copy of a telegram from the Minister at Peking, dated the 26th September, and received by me to-day; and I enclose also for your information a copy of a despatch which I have written giving fully my views as to what should be done at Canton under existing circumstances. The gist of these views 1 telegraphed to the Colonial Office on the 26th September, and a copy of my telegram has already been sent to you. (To-day's typhoon has, I fear, caused delay in transmission.)
I notice that Macleay in forwarding the Foreign Office telegram does not say whether or not he approves.
For my part, I fully agree with the passage in the Foreign Office telegram No. 272 which proposes that the reply to Eugene's note of the 18th September should be a formal acknowledgment by yourself, in which you would welcome the assurance given to terminate the boycott on or before the 10th October, but make no reference whatever to the taxation proposal. I also agree with the passage in the Colonial Office telegram of the 22nd September, which proposed that we should say nothing about the methods by which the Canton Government intends to raise funds for liquidating the boycott organisation, and which points out that by maintaining silence now we shall be in a better position later on to deny, if necessary, that the removal of the boycott was dependent on taxation (the latter being the affair of the Canton Government to which we were not even asked to agree), and so have our hands free for action if the Canton Government on the 10th October seeks refuge in excuses.
I consider, however, that it would be a dreadful mistake to make any verbal intimations to the Canton Government until the boycott is fully called off, except such intimations as may keep them in a wholesome state of alarm as to our possible naval action in the event of the boycott not being called off. To make the verbal intimation suggested in Foreign Office telegram No. 275 would destroy the advantage which should accrue from the course proposed in the Colonial Office telegram, and it would suggest that the boycott has secured our acquiescence in the taxation.
I consider also that it would be a grave error" to shut our eyes to the new levy," and that it would in every way be preferable, if the boycott is actually removed, to egotiate openly the terms upon which we will give the Canton Government de jure
cognition, and then proceed to negotiate as to the proposed new taxation.
3)
If you agree, I think you would do well to telegraph to the Foreign Office ccordingly, for it seems to me that the Foreign Office is snatching at the momentary advantage-I say "momentary advisedly, for the boycott might at any time be teimposed-forgetful of the very serious future dangers.
Youre very sincerely,
C. CLEMENTI.
ade
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