The question whether the conditions in China
tuh ray
are such as to necessitate a retention of the
A
Garrison at more than its normal strength is
for the F.0. and the W.O. not think for
+
either of the Defence Committees though Major
--
Wilson should see this paper.
+ CONFIDENTIAL.
C
Sir,
вире
i
RECT
7604
28 FEB 14
HONGKONG.
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
22nd. January, 1914.
69
Copy to F.0. and W.0., LEA
36866/12 was put by without the minutes being
complete. This is an oversight of a dangerous
X
character.
4.2.14
Ek
5.3.14
€5.3.14. $5.8.14
4.3.14
wh
leum
до
I am sorry this.
Some our j
be hanged.
Soon
K
I have the honour to inform you that the General Officer Commanding the Troops in South China has sent me a copy of a Despatch, received by him from His Britannic Majesty's Minister at Peking, in which Sir John Jordan has addressed the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on the subject of the possibility of reducing the garrison of Hongkong. Sir John Jordan has in that Despatch recorded the opinion that if there are no signs of further trouble in China before the end of liarch the troops at Hongkong might be reduced to the number of the normal Garrison previous to February, 1912.
2.
I trust that you will not consider that I am travelling outside of my province if I state my views on this question in which this Colony is deeply interested. My view is that it is impossible for the situation in Kwangtung to emerge from its precarious condition within the next few months and that it is therefore premature to contemplate a reduction in the troops here for the present.
3.
The financial condition in Canton is worse today than it has been since the Revolution. The Treasury is
empty and the Provincial Note Issue stands at more than 70% dis- -count. The monthly excess of expenditure over revenue is, I am
assured on very good authority, 8900,000. His Britannic Majesty's
Consul-
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
LEWIS HARCOURT, M.P.,
&C..
&c.,
&c...
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.