Hong Kong, Sir J.Jameson, and Sir/Macleay all re- ject forcible action.
Hong Kong still presses for joint blockade by the
Powers.
Sir J.Jameson thinks it the sole solution.
Sir R.Macleay doubts whether other Powers would join us.
Possibly the boycott of Hong Kong and of Britis.. shipping using that port infringes the principle of "equal opportunity" to which Article I.1.of the Washington Treaty pledged the Nine Powers. I do not feel very
sure. But are the United States in the least likely to
co-operate in bringing to an end a state of things which suits their trade admirably? Remember how the American judge at the Shanghai Inquiry played up to the Chinese. There is however some hope that the boycott will extend to other Powers, beginning with the
Japanese, and that may alter the position.
We will send on later a considered statement'on the
Nanking and Tientsin treaties, but do not delay this
to discuss them.
Assistance to Admiral Li has been rejected by the
Foreign Office.
Sir R.Macleay's policy is "Await developments" and
hope that the Bosheviks will disgust the Chinese. Un-
less and until H.M.G.decide to abandon the fiction of a
United China, to which we have hitherto clung for fear
of worse chaos, it is difficult to suggest any other
line of action. There are of course hints that the F.0.
may abandon the fiction.
This telegram has been circulated with other
Colonial telegrams, but the S. of S.may like to call
special attention to it and to the very serious
situation of Hong Kong, by circulating the telegram
3200/26.
2365/26.
separately