DECYPHER TELEGRAM from the Governor of Hong Kong to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
(Dated 27th April, 1927.)
(Received Colonial Office 9.29 a.m. 27th April, 1927.)
2356
END
Addressed to Secretary of State for the Colonics
repeated to Peking No. 33 and Canton. Armas embargo. Please se paragrapha 5 and 6 of my despatch secret 28th June 1926. Brenan informa me that General Lichaisum now dictator at
Sentor sent for Commander Fitsprald Senior Naval Officer West
River on 25th April and asked for assistance in obtaining
rifle and other ammunition. Lichaisum said thet Russian
supply was cut off and he needed renewal of his stocks to deal
with red anunter attack. Brenan
Brenan agreed with me that arma
emberen has merely operated to help Chinese who rely on Russia
and hamper their opponents. Ho considers that if Communi
is to be fought in China the Chinese the selves must do it
and that we should be extremely foolish to handicap men who
are trying to do it; also that if we assist Lichaisum we
shall have the same hold over him as the fussians had over his
predecessors.
I have consulted Southern Kamp and Hallifax.
consider that if Lichaimum will publicly declare his intention
to suppress all anti-foreign and particularly anti-Britiah
menifestations in territory he controls and further that he
will respect foreign treaty rights pending nemtiation
proper form of ravis'd treaties and also that he will suppress
piracy and brigandage notably that emanating from Bias Bay
then we should relax arms ombargo which has main been shown
to work against our interests.
mode
in
If Lichaisum/such a declaration and gave proof of
hie ainoarity it would clearly be undesirable to enforce t
in Kwangtung my sanction in respect of Manking outros.