CO129-424 - Governor Sir May - 1915 [9-10] — Page 153

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retention of the interned German prisoners in Hunghom hinges also

on this subject of liquidation. To onlookers it is very creditable to the energy of the Britishers in this Colony, and the officials

who will naturally reap the reward of such patriotic energy, that the burden and expense of guardianship should have been so well and truly done as their share in the general self-sacrifice. No one questioned or grudged the steps taken in the early months but the time nas arrived when my Committee think representations should be

made to the Home Government that the retention of the 300 odd

prisoners in the centre of this small Colony is a source of grast danger to the peace and contentment of the inhabitants. They are surrounded by a large neutral native population who neither under- -stand the quarrel nor see why they should not sympathise with them, help them to escape, or convey communications to the other Germans in Canton and elsewhere in China with a view to aiding

@edition and revolution.

The large and successful hold the Germans had of the trade of the Colony naturally has its effect on the minds of the Chinese with whom they did business and so long as the latter see with what care we take of the lives and health of the interned German business men so long will they refrain from commencing new relations with the British houses. Germans in China have of course

taken care to instil into the Chinese mind that as soon as the War is over they will be ready to do business again and that it is no use for them to start new business relationships for the short period of the War. The long local rejdence of H. E. the Governor and his knowledge of the Chinese character will doubtless enable him to impress on the Home Government that such ideas are not absurd and that to disabuse them and to enable trade to be resumed, the only business like course to pursue is to ship the Germans away to Australia. Owing to the smallness of the Colony the present position of the Camp is doubtless the most convenient but if the analogy of a German Concentration Camp in say the Green Park could be brought to the minds of the Home Officials as

much