CAMION OUTRAGE
INDEXED
No. S/O 53 (156/1080/48)
F1900 / 361/10.
LL
F
2056
BRITISH EMBASSY,
9 FEB 1948
28th January, 1948.
Dear Department,
We enclose a copy of a letter, with enclosures, from our Consul-General at Canton to the Ambassador regarding the circumstances in which the destruction of our Consulate-General at Canton took place..
You will note from this letter that Hall takes the line that the outrage took place in defiance of T.V. Soong and as an expression of opposition to him. This, we understand, is also the view of the United States Embassy here, who consider (though admittedly they have no proof) that this opposition comes partly from the C.C. clique.
With reference to Hall's statements regarding the prohibition of the demonstration, the Ministry's version of this, as expressed in conversation by Dr. Yin to Labouchere, is that the possibility of forbidding demonstrations was discussed, that, however, it was felt that this was too dangerous a measure and would be likely to lead to mob outbursts and that it would be better to allow the demonstrations to take place but under the guidance of moderate elements (hence the fact that the demonstration was apparently led by the Chairman of the Provincial Council). Just how useful these proposals turned out to be is shown by subsequent developments.
Yours ever,
CHANCERY.
China Department,
Foreign office,
London, S.V.1.
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