CO129-427 - Public Offices - 1915 — Page 139

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me,

British residents on Shameen praying for the

expulsion of the Germans from the Concession, the

General Officer Commanding. at Hongkong telegraphed

to His Majesty's Minister without first consulting

complaining of the offensive attitude of the

Germans on Shameen and requesting His Majesty's

Minister to put an end to the situation. I am

inclined to think that the despatch of this tele-

gram on the date mentioned above shows cooperation

between certain of the petitioners and the military

authorities at Hongkong.

5. The anti-Japanese agitation early in May last

caused me to inquire into the condition of the

Shameen Defence Corps. I found the Corps moribund

and altogether inefficient and at my suggestion the

Municipal Council took steps to resuscitate the

Corps. I subsequently learned that Mr. Hogg was

actively spreading a report that the formation of the

corps was directed solely against the Germans, that

there was no danger to be apprehended from the

Chinese and that any member of the Corps who dis-

agreed with these views had better resign at once.

After.