RECEIVED
20 JAN 1928
COL. OFFICE
Rt. Hon. W.G.A.Ormsby-GoreM.P.
52741
3
23
19th January, 1928.
Under Secretary of State for the Colonies,
10.
вори
936! 921 18 29 23 Lpg.
Dear Ormsby-Core,
I have been disturbed by the reports which have
appeared in the Press, both in this country and in Shang=
hai of recent events at Canton, and will be glad if you can furnish me with information to enable me to understand
what has happened.
On December 11th last it was reported that 20,000
Communist troops had taken possession of Canton. It was stated that owing to intimidation the crews of steamers
had refused to take their ships to Hong Kong, and that an armed Naval party supported by H.M.S. Moorhen was helping
to move steamers to the wharf.
According to a telegram published in the "Times" of December 12th, communications between Hong Kong and Canton were cut off, but Naval Ratings were bringing British steamers back to Hong Mong.
According to Reuter, no anti-foreign acts had taken place up to December 12th, and it was stated that the area affected by the disturbances was the native city alone, and that the Shameen or foreign quarter was in no way involved up to 12th December.
On December 15th, Locker-Lampson made the following