COPY.
BRITISH CONSULATE-G
CANTON.
13th August, 1935.
24
Dear Sir Alexander,
I was very interested to receive a copy (in your Circular to Consuls No. 76 of July 17th of Foreign Office Circular despatch T 6424/4960/384 dated June 5th on the question of representations by H.M. representatives abroad on behalf of the Government of India, and, although it does not call for a reply, may I record my own "reactions" to these instructions?
2. The despatch refers to representations
"on behalf of the Government of India" (which means, I take it, on behalf of British Indian subjects and their interests) and to cases where "the action of the Government of the country in which you reside is prima facie calculated to prejudice these interests". There are of course numerous other occasions on which we assist Indians. There is quite a large Indian colony in my consular district, consisting mainly of merchants, money lenders, oculists, watchmen, and police, and I am constantly being acked to perform various offices for them in connection with notarial acts, passports and registration, and occasionally in connection with litigation or representations to the Chinese authorities. In dealing with such requests exactly the same discretion is exercised as would be used in the cases of similar requests from any other British subjects.
3. I have no complaint to make against the
actions of the local Chinese authorities in so far as injury
His Excellency
The Hon. Sir Alexander M.G. Cadogan, K.C.M.G., C.B.
His Majesty's Ambassador,
Peking.
to/