[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.]
354
Decypher.
No. 462.
FROM CHINA.
Sir M. Lampson. (Pexing).
July 26th. 1930.
بل
12.45.p.m. July 28th. 1930.
R.
9.00.8.m. July 28th. 1930.
Addressed to Hongkong No. 60 July 26th. Confidential.
Maze has sent me confidentially a copy of despatch which he has received from Department of Customs Affairs of National Government instructing him to proceed to long- kong to discuss settlement on original lines, and if he fails, to submit proposals for preventive measures. Maze states that owloon Commissioner has been instructed ac- cordingly and has been informed that if Customs are thus compelled to enforce stricter preventive measures on Kow- loon frontier and in Canton etc. the plan adopted will in- clude their complete withdrawal from British to Chinese territory. He adds that he has meanwhile authorized Osborne to continue his informal conversations with Lloyd.
I naturally by no means countenance this method of negotiation by pressure, but at the same time I consider it more than ever desirable that some arrangement should be come to as soon as possible.
I should be glad to learn what prospects now are and whether there is anything I can do to assist in securing a settlement.
Repected to Foreign Office No. 462 and Mr. Ingram.