(S)ES PARAPHRASE TELEGRAM from the Governor of Hong Kong to
Hards
74 3105/28
670/3105726
95
Dated 6th February 1916
Secretary of State for the Colonies. (Received Colonial Office, 9.20 a.m., 6th February,1926).
I am repeating this telegram to Peking and Canton.
I have received from His Majesty's Minister Peking
copies of telegram No.35 from the Foreign Office and of his reply dated the 1st February (No.10) A copy of a
of telegram dated the 2nd February (No.5) from His Majesty's Consul-General Canton to the Foreign Office has also been
sent to me. Barton is in the Colony (on a visit from
Shanghai); I have taken counsel with him and O'Malley.
On the oth of February they both depart for Shanghai. In addition I have discussed with Hallifax, Kemp and
Tratman. What follows represents our unanimous opinion.
(g) It would be correct to look upon the Government of
Canton as a rebel Government in insurrection against Peking'
and other parts of China. We understand from His Majesty's Consul at Swatow that it is at present engaged in offensive operations against Fukien. In our opinion
actual hostilities in Kuang Tung would not constitute
recognition of an Independent Government in Canton. We consider however that such hostilities in Kuang Tung are
not at present to be recommended. In our opinion the time
has gone by for warlike action to be undertaken in Kuang
Tung by Great Britain alone except at the risk of
jeopardising our future economic relations with Chine. We
are however of the opinion that it would be advantageous
if very strong pressure could be brought to bear on the
representatives in London of the Chief Maritime Powers
with a view to joint action being taken at this juncture.
The action which we suggest was outlined in my telegram of
the 26th of January.
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