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Mr. Fu Peng-sheung all three desire that some understanding should be arrived at by informal conversations before an official conference takes place, because any hitch or breakdown in official negotiations would be a serious matter. Mr. Fitzmaurice further says that Mr. C. C. Wu would prefer that an officer of the Hong- kong Government should conduct these informal conversations with him rather than that the two Chinese members of the Hong- I kong Legislative Council should visit Canton for the purpose. have, therefore, struck out from the fourth paragraph of my despatch of the 24th March to H.M. Consul-General at Canton, which has not yet been officially passed on to the Canton Govern ment, the following words:-" and I agree that it will be better This leaves it open to to dispense with any such preliminaries.' the Canton Government, if it so desires, to reply that Dr. To did not correctly interpret its view and that the Canton Govern- ment would prefer informal conversations to precede the official conference. In the event of such a reply being made I have it in mind to send Mr. Kemp to Canton, as he and Mr. C. C. Wu know each other and were called to the bar on the same day; and it may perhaps be arranged that, as on a previous occasion, Mr. Sung Tsz-man came to see me in Hongkong and then returned to on this occasion Mr. Canton with Mr. A. G. M. Fletcher, so Kemp should bring Mr. C. C. Wu back with him from Canton to Hongkong.
"
5. It is unfortunate that at this juncture Mr. Wong Tseng-wai should be ill and that the political situation at Canton should be confused and obscure. But, as this Government has announced its willingness to negotiate an honourable and a lasting settlement with the Government actually exercising authority in Canton, it is essential that under present circumstances this attitude should be maintained and that the official reply to Mr. Wong Tseng-wai should be delivered. As regards the position of the Russians at Canton 1 enclose an extract from to-day's issue of the Hong- kong Daily Press. This information, if true, is very interesting.
6. I have read this despatch over to Mr. Fitzmaurice, who agrees that it correctly sets out the information which he has given me. Sir James Jamieson's telegram to the Foreign Office, No. 14 of the 26th March (copy attached for convenience of refer- ence) was also based on information given by Mr. Fitzmaurice; but it should be corrected in the following points:-
(a) It is not known for a fact either that Mr. Wong Tseng- wai is in hospital or that he is "practically under open arrest." It is more probable that he is still, as he certainly was on Monday last, in his own house: and, according to statements made to Mr. Fitzmaurice by members of the Canton Council, he is still regarded as nominal head of the Canton Government.
(b) It is not the case that Messrs. Sung Tsz-man, C. C. Wu and Fu Peng-sheung deprecate sending in my despatch which announces the appointment of plenipotentiary delegates. On
• No. 14. + Not reprinted,
161
the contrary they wish it to be sent in to Mr. Wong Tseng- wai: but they deprecate the opening of a formal conference until preliminary informal conversations have taken place.
(c) It is not specially desired by the Canton Government that Sir Shou-son Chow and Dr. Kotewall should go to Canton. What is specially desired is a preliminary informal conversation; and Mr. C. C. Wu would prefer that an official of the Hongkong Government should go to Canton for such a purpose.
(d) It was not Dr. To Ying-kwan, but apparently Mr. Ip Wing-chuk who informed Mr. C. C. Wu that I wanted personal discussion with him at Macao. Mr. Ip had no authority from me to make such a communication.
I have, &c.,
C. CLEMENTI,
ENCLOSURE 2 IN No. 15.
Governor, &c.
[TELEGRAM, H.M. MINISTER, No. 31.]
H.B.M. Consulate-General, Canton, March 26th, 1926, Your telegram to Hongkong of March 24th repeating message to Foreign Office, his reply of March 25th and previous message regarding despatch of official delegation to negotiate strike settlement.
As is usual in the case of Chinese intermediaries there has been misunderstanding. Wang Ching-wei, who wrote letter on which Governor's optimistic attitude and action are based, is in hospital practically under open arrest, as was Hu Man-min before he was sent to Moscow.
H.M. Vice-Consul has to-day seen C. C. Wu, T. V. Sung and Fu Peng-sheung and sounded them as to presentation of Governor's despatch announcing appointment of plenipotentiary delegates. All three deprecate its being sent in. Two latter in- timate that question resolves itself into one of bargaining and would prefer that two Chinese delegates come here to settle monetary question. Former states that he was given to-under- stand by Dr. To, Hongkong's emissary, that Governor wanted personal discussion with himself. Failing that he would like further preliminary informal discussions here.
In view of these complications I am sending Vice-Consul to Hongkong to explain matters, Governor's despatch is not being forwarded and further developments will have to be awaited. Were an official delegation to come there and return without result universal bad impression would be created.
I entirely concur with your views on the subject of presentation of counter-claims by Hongkong.
Repeated to Foreign Office No. 14.
CONSUL-GENERAL..
M
2
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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Reference :-
C.O.882/11
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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