CO537-3706 — Page 207

OUTWARD TELEGRAM

138.

Cypher/OTP

F

/361/10

Restricted

FROM FOREIGN OFFICE TO NANKING

No.118

9th February, 1948.

POLITICAL DISTRIBUTION

D. 4. 15 p.m. 9th February, 1948.

Repeated to Hong Kong

RESTRICTED

Addressed to His Majesty's Ambassador Nanking telegram No. 118 of 9th February, repeated to Hong Kong for information.

124.

Your telegram No. 93 [of 27th January; Canton outrage].

From the silence the Chinese have observed on the Canton outrage and their pressure for a settlement of the Kowloon incident it would appear (a) that they will not settle the former until we agree to their terms for the latter (b) that they regard the former as less important than the latter. This is a state of affairs we cannot allow to continue un- noticed. To sack and burn the Consulate General of a friendly nation far outweighs the merits of a mere police

case.

2. We have two Parliamentary Questions awaiting answer, one for 16th February as to whether we have any further state- ment to make about the recent incidents at Canton and how far the court of enquiry has proceeded, and one for 23rd February as to what satisfaction His Majesty's Government have received in respect of Anti-British demonstrations in January.

3. It is now nearly four weeks since Canton outrage, and we are still left without any indication of the manner in which the Chinese Government interpret their obligations under international law in this connexion. Please therefore ask Chinese Government if they are now in a position to give you any information on the results of the enquiry initiated by them; at the same time impressing on them the importance which is attached here in the interests of continued friendly relations to an early and satisfactory settlement.

2 2 2