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Chinese merchants, and have come to Canton. Formerly they always said that no living man should come near Canton, and constituted of Communists and that our Government were pirates. They now realise that Hongkong will very soon have to surrender to us, and therefore they have come under the title of responsible representatives for Chinese merchants. Now let us ask the eight rebels that since they call themselves respon- sible representatives for Chinese merchants, what the real nature of their responsibility is. Will you be responsible for having Will you asked Hongkong to send soldiers to attack Canton? be responsible for having helped Chan Kwing Ming with arms to attack Kwang Tung? Will you be responsible for having caused injury to the strike and acted as tame dogs for foreigners? If you are responsible for all these, then there are laws of our country and we can only ask the Government to execute them accordingly and have their heads hoisted up to warn the people. If you are not responsible for these offences, but have only come for peace negotiation, then you are Chinese, and should help our brothers to resist their enemies, so that the strikers can easily come out victorious. You are not worthy of speaking the words peace negotiation." If you claim to be obedient subjects of the English and tame dogs of the Imperialists, then you are accessories to the crimes committed, and should run away like rats, even if the Government pardons you, and have no face to have come to see us.

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SIR,

ENCLOSURE 5 IN No. 4.

6th January, 1926.

I have the honour to invite your attention to the extract from the newspaper, The Workman's Path, on the 20th December last, which, with a translation, forms the enclosure to this despatch.

2. Proof of the authenticity of the article can be found only in Canton, and in the circumstances attending the sailings of the s.s, Honam" and "Fatshan immediately following its publi- cation; and if you can satisfy yourself in this respect, I have to request you to be good enough to take an early opportunity of bringing it to the notice of the proper authority in the city.

3. The articles completely identifies the present Canton Govern- ment with the Strikers' Committee, for whose actions it has been so long continuously at pains to deny responsibility; and what- ever may have been the interpretation which it was previously desired should be put upon their failure to restrain the strikers' activities in Canton, now plainly reveals that Government as prin- cipals, acting in concert with the Strikers' Committee, in a serious breach of Treaty Conditions.

4. I have therefore the honour to request that you will be good enough, if you are satisfied as to the authenticity of the letter.

* Quoted in No. 4.

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to enter the strongest protest with the Canton Government against this action which becomes an unfriendly act in violation of Treaty Rights and Conditions.

I have, &c.,

"C. CLEMENTI,

Governor, &c.

His Britannic Majesty's Consul-General, Canton.

C3927/26S.

No. 5.

The Governor of Hongkong to the Secretary of State for the

Secret.

SIR,

Colonies.

(Received 17th February, 1926.)

Government House, Hongkong, 14th January, 1926.

In continuation of my secret despatch dated the 13th January,* I have the honour to inform you that Sir James Jamieson, His Majesty's Consul-General at Canton, came to Hongkong on the 10th January and remained at Government House as my guest General until the 14th January, when he returned to Canton. Luard, who commands His Majesty's military forces in this Colony, returned to Hongkong last week from leave of absence; H.M.S. and Admiral Sir E. Alexander Sinclair, the British Naval Com

at present at Hongkong in mander-in-Chief, is

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Hawkins." Accordingly 1 arranged for a conference with them at Government House on the morning of the 13th January to discuss the political situation. Mr. E. R. Hallifax (acting Colonial Secretary), Mr. J. H. Kemp (Attorney General), and Mr. D. W. Tratman (acting Secretary for Chinese Affairs) also attended.

2. The first matter for consideration was the attached copy of telegram, dated the 9th January, from His Majesty's Consul General at Shanghai, in which Mr. Kwik Djoe-ning, a wealthy Chinese whose fortune was made in Java, and who is well known in Hongkong, states that General Wu Pei-fu, now at Hankow, to attack the Red Government at Canton, has promised him " provided that funds up to 12 million dollars are available." Kwik suggests that the Hongkong Government should purchase his property at North Point-an area of sea-bed now in process of reclamation-in order that he may finance General Wu to the *C 3926,268; not printed.

Mr.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O.882/11

| ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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