CO129-384 - Public Offices - 1911 — Page 446

In any further communication

on this subject, please quote

No. 33634/11.

and addrek --

The Under-Secretary of State,

Foreign Ofee,

Loudon.

60 443 29315

RECE

FouRigs Dericit !! !

September 5th, 1911.

Sir:-

I an directed by Secretary Sir E. Grey to acknow-

Gov.

ledge the receipt of your letter 27206/1911 of the

25th. ultimo enclosing a copy of a despatch from the

Governor of Hong Kong in which His Excellency again

requests sanction for the course of action which he

advocates in regard to the Hong Kong-Canton telegraph

line.

Sir E. Grey fully realises the force of the con-

tentions advanced by Sir F. Lugard, but, in view of the

danger likely to result to important British interests

in China if His Excellency puts an end in the manner

he proposes to the anomalous position now occupied in

respect of these telegraphs by the Chinese Government,

the Secretary of State considers that some compromise

must be found and that the effect on the Eastern Ex-

tension Telegraph Company of any changes that may be

Under Secretary of State,

Colonial Office.

effected