Copy
(F 4744/37/10)
No. 716 (36/5.Y.)
Copy to Hong Kong
Mr. Ingram.
CONFIDENTIAL.
BRITISH LEGATION,
PEKING.
27th May, 1930.
72
13
A
sir,
2.
(59) 7275730
In my despatches Tour Series Numbers 80 of
m63 April 22nd, 106 of May 5th, 110 of May 6th and 114 of
727
30ay 8th, I had the honour to forward copies of corres-
pondence with the Inspector-General of Customs, and
minutes of interviews with Mr. Maze, on the subject of
the Hong Kong Customs Agreement. Since my return to
Peking, I have received from the Governor of Hong Kong,
a repetition of his secret telegram to the Colonial
Office Number 34 of May 17th, on the same subject.
There can be few questions affecting the
relations between Great Britain and China which have
had a longer life than this one, and which so many
unavailing attempts have been made from time to time
to settle. It is exceedingly difficult, even at this
distance from Hong Kong, to judge the merits of the case,
or to discover precisely what degree of importance is to
be attached to points of detail upon which undue stress
would seem to have been laid in the past. The frequent
failure to come to any agreement, even when agreement
seemed well within sight, and the fact that the parties
concerned have from time to time shifted their ground and
changed their views, appear to have gradually enveloped
the ....
The Right Honourable
Arthur Henderson, M.P.,
etc., etc., eto.,
FOREIGN OFFICE.