CO129-420 - Governor Sir May - 1915 [1-2] — Page 160

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No

CONFIDENTIAL.

HONGKONG,

Rec

9427

REG 25FEB 15

157

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

22nd January, 1915.

Sir,

45-800114

In continuation of ay

Confidential despatch of

the 29th December, 1914, I have the honour to report that on the 8th January the Cable Censor refused to transit a cypher telegram from ar. G. E. Anderson, the United States Consul- General here, to his Government in Washington, and to transmit for your information the enclosed copies of the correspondence

noted in the margin which ensued between

lir. Anderson and the Colonial Secretary

and the Ceneral Officer Commanding ·

etter from U.S.Consul-General to

Colonial Secretary, 8.1.15. etter from 0.0.0. to U.S.Consul-

General, 14.1.15.

etter from U.S.Consul-Ceneral to Colonial Secretary, 13.1.15. etter from U.S.Consul-Ceneral to

G.O.C., 15.1.15.

2.

The General Officer Command

ing at my request informed the Consul- General that under the Censorship Regulations the privilege of sending messages in cypher or in an unauthorised code was only accorded to Ambassadors, Kinisters, Chargés d'Affaires and the Heads of Diplomatic Missions.

3.

lir. Anderson, however, contends that the Regulations prevent him from communicating freely with his Covernment and requests that his protest be duly forwarded to His Lajesty's Government.

4.

I am unaware of the existence of any special circumstances which would render an extension of this privil-

oge desirable in this particular instance.

THE RIGHT HONOUTUBLE

LEWIS HARCOURT, M.P.,

ثاني