CO537-3705 — Page 178

Cypher (0.T.P.)

IMPORTANT

TO HONG KONG (Sir A. Grantham)

FROM S. OF S.. COLONIES.

Sent 18th January, 1948. 14.15 hrs.

No. 86 Restricted.

Following from Foreign Office to

Nanking No. 40 repeated to Hong Kong for information. Begins.

Your telegram no. is for foth Jammary

Consulate-Gene ralj.

Canton

On receipt of your telegram Chinese Ambassador was invited to call on sir ürme sargent, who represented to him the gravity of the situation which had now arison at Cauton and asked him to impress upon his Government the incerity for safeguarding the lives and property of all British subjects in China.

2. The Ambassador endeavoured to argue that it ms because he feared incidents of the kind which had taken puce at Canton that he had urged a speedy settlement of the Kowloon incident. Sir erme Sargent told him that he could not accept the suggestion that settlement of the Kowloon incident was a necessary safeguard against incidents in China, since this was equivalent to holding a threat over our heads.

The Ambassador has osen promised a full statement of the position in regard to howloon, since at present he is acquainted only with the Chinese case. Ends.

0:0

Circulated to:-

Secretary of State Sir T. Lleyd

Mr. Reep Williama

8ir C. Jeffries

Sir S. Caine

Mr. Esatwood

Mr. Foynton

Mr. Rogera

Mr. Galsworthy

Mr. Bennett

Mr. Ian Watt

Mr. Blackburne

Colonial Attache

Mr. Bigg

Accounts Branch

Mr. Holding

R. 445

Mr. Collins

Mr. Seel

Mr. Mayle

Mr. W.I.J. Wallace

Mr. Radford

Mr. Scarlett

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