5155
Paraphrase Telegram from the Governor of Hong Kong to the
Secretary of State for the Colonies.
Dated 22nd January.
(Received Colonial Office 4.48 p.m. 22nd January, 1927).
Addressed to Secretary of State for the Colonies
repeated to Peking Telegram No.7 Canton and O'Malley
begins With reference to Foreign Office telegram No.35
Telegram No.36 to Peking, it is felt here that proposed
action is conceding to force points which ought to be settled by negotiation and that the proposals made by
His Majesty's Government presuppose a modern Government
on orderly civilised lines such as does not exist at
present time in any part of China; for almost everywhere there is civil war and, except over main centres of
population regional authorities exercise very loose control.
In allowing Canton to secure Washington surtaxes
illegally and unconditionally after prolonged anti-British boycott followed by far reaching surrender of privileges now contemplated consequent on seizure of British
concession at Hankow, His Majesty's Government are, we feel, displaying a weakness which will encourage extremists in tearing up treaties and repudiating obligations and so lead eventually to war.
So long moreover as Nationalist Government is not
recognised we cannot insist that it should assume obligations in return for what is surrendered: if
recognition is accorded it we could so insist.
There is no intention, we presume, that Great Britain alone should give up privileges and treaty rights while other Powers (e.g. Japan and France) continue to enjoy them.
Telegram No.36
The following are our observations
on