CO129-414 - Governor Sir May - 1914 [10-11] — Page 139

281

(ersa)

(cteTbba).

I

bal Getnot? ydored (yttisaok±sa).

VI‡OOTİBNİ The pitserib Todtien IIIw I doi‡ eťatrebap

io vjoise edt of Isiskbuteny xav yas at aɔttos yns exst

.entral deijing oft

Paraphrase of CYPHER Telegram

From GOVERNOR, HONGKONG,

To

SECRETARY OF STATE.

Date 26th October, 1914,

Endpure 4

136

The General Officer Commanding urges very strongly that

Germana and Austrians deported from Hongkong be prevented

from taking up residence on Shaneen Oærton; that Germans

and Austrians now resident there especially Consuls be

expelled; and that those of thêm who are liable for military

service be intered in Hongkong. His view is that there

is great difficulty in stopping leakage from this Colony

as long as enemy residents are as close as Canton with

Chinese and Portuguese employees formerly in their pay

still here. He contends that even if it is impossible to

prevent thêm going to Canton itself very few will want to

go there if the Shameen is closed to them. He considers

the political situation warrants risking complications with

China by arresting reservists there.

My opinion is that transfer to Shameen should be allowed

to a few approved persons who already have branches of their

firms there; that expulsion of present residents on Shameen

would be futile as they would merely transfer themselves

to Chinese soil. As regards the arrest of reservists I

deprecate such action as it would inevitably lead to com-

plications with the Chinese Authorities,

MAT.