Cypher (0,T.P.)
OUTWARD TELEGRAM
TO U.K. DELEGATION, NEW YORK
FROM S. OF S., COLONIES,
Sent 19th February, 1948.
19.45 hrs.
بر
IMPORTANT
BRIEF NO. 53
Following from Colonial Office for Mr. N.D. Watson
for Mr. Creech Jones, Begins.
1.
COTEL No. 6.
Kowloon Incident.
Reply to two points raised by Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs regarding Garden of Remembrance proposal was given to him on 16th February. It promised releasc of the two men as act of grace by Governor Hong Kong if agreement secured. Chinese Government was urged to reciprocate by accepting original proposal for care and maintenance of Garden by Hong Kong Government. Further meeting between Ambassador and Chinese Minister arranged for 18th February. If progress found impossible on the sc lines Ambassador was authorised to suggest that care and maintenance should be responsibility of joint committee of custodians consisting of equal number of Chinese and Hong Kong Government nominees; maintenance of law and order and sanitation to be carried out by Hong Kong Government in consultation with the Committee, and cost of laying out and maintaining borne jointly by the two Governments.
2. Gold Coast Boycott,
The boycott on imported goods in the Gold Coast now in its fourth week, led to a disturbance in the streets of Accra on Tuesday. Some damage was done to European stores and crowd had to be dispersed by baton charge. Nobody was injured. Governor has invoked Peace Preservation Ordinance as precaution against further disturbance,
Boycott appears to have support of majority of Gold Coast people and of Joint Provincial Council of Chiefs. Object is to force reduction in percentage of mark-up on imported goods and likelihood is that object will be achieved. Certain Greek and Syrian retailers are already reducing prices. Government Price Control Committee is making interim recommendations and meeting has been arranged between representatives of Joint Provincial Council and Chamber of Commerce, as a result of which it is hoped negotiations for settlement will allow boycott to be called
off.
3. In continuation of paragraph 2 of my savingram of 18th February Governor now reports ha considers information of death of Imam of the Yemen as reliable. is endeavouring to arrange with Service authorities for extending certain courtesies to which he attaches political importance at outset of new regime.
He
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