114
En Clair
POLITICAL DISTRIBUTION
FROM NANKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE
Sir R. Stevenson
No. 75
20th January 1948 Ropeated to Canton
TREDIE
LIGHT
D. 4.19 p.m. 20th January 1948 R. 4.47 p.m. 20th January 1948
Governor of Hong Kong
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 75 of 20th January repeated for information to Canton and Governor of Hong Kong.
Your telegram No. 46.
I have addressed today a note in following terms to Minister for Foreign Affairs,
[Begins]
On the 16th January the premises of His Lajesty's Consulate General at Canton as well as the houses and property of a number of British firms were burnt to the ground by a hostile crowd.
2. I am instructed by the Prime Minister to inform Your Excellency that the news of this deplorable outrage committed for no good reason against the subjects of a friendly nation has profoundly shocked His Lajesty's Government in the United Kingdom.
3. I am at the same time formally to demand full compensation for all British property destroyed. I am further to press for carly information regarding the results of the investigation which it is understood is at present being conducted by the Chinese Government, in order that is Lajosty's Goverment may learn the identity of the organisers of and participants in the attack, and the reason why the Chinese authorities were unable to prevent it. His ajesty's Government would also wish to be assured that all persons responsible for the outrage will receive condign punishment.
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1
I am to request a very carly reply to this note. [Ends]