2
(97)
3. I promised to pass on this communication to you, though I left the Minister for Foreign Affairs in no doubt that if after lapse of nearly 50 years they tried to enforce the rights which we no longer recognise as valid repercussions would be extreme ly serious.
= 4. In turn I pointed out to the Minister for Foreign Affairs using ma torial contained in Hong Kong telegram No. 133 to the Secretary of State for the Colonies that continued despatch of "confort missions" from the province of Canton was making the situation increasingly difficult and I requested that ho should telegraph Dr. T.V. Scong asking him to do his best to prevent any further gestures of the kind. This the Minister for Foreign Affairs promised to do.
5. I am inclined to share the apprehension of the Chinese Government in regard to possibility of further trouble if the matter is allowed to drag on. My apprehension is based however on the extreme weakness of the Chinese Government emphasised in my telegrams Nos. 98 and 99. I would be glad therefore if a decision could be reached on the matter soon. would be in favour of a solution on lines suggested in your
On the whole I ) telegram No. 75 paragraphs A. and B. provided the acting repre- /sentative shall be a Consul General. Ground would thus bo
granted by the Government of Hong Kong for use as a Consular
be compound.
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