CO129-413 - Governor Sir May - 1914 [8-10] — Page 517

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N CONFIDENTIAL.

Sir,

HONGKONG.

REC

45258

Real 7 14

71)

GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

14th October, 1914.

514

น

Press

-

I have the honour to inform you that since the out- break of war two newspapers the Ostasiatische Lloyd and the China

published in Shanghai under German and American auspices respectively have at the instance of the Military Authorities been detained in the General Post Office under authority of a general warrant issued by myself.

Recently the Acting Consul-General for the United States of America, in the temporary absence of the Consul-General, enquired of the Postmaster General why the China Press was detained.

Mr. Wolfe informed him that the reason was that the

newspaper was anti-British.

I enclose extracts from recent issues of both papers. Extracts from the Ostasiatische Lloyd appear frequently in the China Press. The information contained in these extracts in some cases incorrect, in others it is misleading, and the tone of all ia anti-British. I consider that the detention of the papers is justified.

The Acting Consul-General intimated to Mr. Wolfe

that the action of this Government in the matter of the China Press might be made the subject of diplomatic representations.

HE RIGHT HONOURABLE

LEWIS HARCOURT, M.P.,

&C..

&c.

&c.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient,

humble servant,

B.

Governor,&c.