[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.]
25
191
From
CHINA
Decode.
Sir M, Lampson.
(Peking.
May 30th, 1928.
D.
(Not shown)
May 30th, 1928.
R.
9.00 a.m.
May 31st, 1928.
No. 520.
(R).
Selow
hot wel aired I
received
Following received from Canton.
Addressed to hongkong; repeated to Peking
No. 53.
Your telegram of May 28th regarding piracy of
British S.S. "Tean".
I have made strong verbal representations to
Commissioner for Foreign Affairs demanding immediate
despatch of troops to Bias Bay and offering co-
operation. of British forces. He promised to bring
the matter before the Council meeting to-day.
I do not think however that Chinese will do any-
thing effective, or that co-operation will be accepted,
unless I can definitely threaten independent action
as alternative, and probably not even then.
It would be as well therefore for naval and
military authorities to ascertain from His Majesty's
Government what action, if any, they will be allowed
to take. See Hongkong despatch to Secretary of State
for Colonies of May 7th.
I will ask for an interview with Marshal Li
Chai-sum as soon as I know what the British attitude
is going to be.