This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government, and should be
returned to the Foreign Office if not required for official use.
44
From CHINA.
Decode.
Mr. O'Malley (Peking).
8th August, 1927.
D.
1.00 p.m. 9th August, 1927.
R.
9.00 a.m. 9th August, 1927.
No. 1233.
(R).
•
• • •
Following from Canton.
Addressed to Peking No. 63 of 6th August, repeated
to Shanghai and Wei-hai-wei for His Majesty's Minister.
Consuls have now been formally notified that
increased tonnage dues are payable from August 1st.
My colleagues are ref erring to Peking for instructions.
Do you wish me to protest and what shall I advise
shipping companies?
Passive resistance measures already suggested will
be dangerous if not impossible in Canton where all cargo
is landed in city especially without the loyal co-
operation of all other nationalities which it is useless
to expect. Norwegian ships for instance are chartered
by Chinese who will pay anything to get business.
We can protect British ships against detention but
cannot prevent complete stoppage of their trade without
such general hostile action against Canton government
as will cause latter not only to abandon taxes but to
refrain from re-imposing boycott.
The tonnage dues question is complicated ( grp. undec.) large number of Chinese owned and controlled
steamers and launches.