CO129-427 - Public Offices - 1915 — Page 58

5.

cargo laden on board the German steamship "Derfflinger",

Your petitioners therefore feel themselves compelled to

regard all German subjects resident in Canton as alien

enemies, and not as persons who have acquired a

commercial domicil in China, but as persons who have

"never ceased to have their residence and domicil in

their om country.

6.

Amongst these persons who have hitherto resided and

7.

carried on business in the said British Concession of the

Shameen are many subjects of the Emperor of Germany,

and

in addition to these persons, others of the same national

-ity who have been compelled to leave the British Colony

of Hongkong have come to reside on the said Concession.

Your petitioners are convinced that the continued resi-

dence in the Shameen aforesaid of persons of enemy

nationality is not only a menace to those of British

nationality there resident, but it is also most pre-

judicial to British interests

-

more especially having

regard to the fact that the native population of the

district are unable to comprehend why such persons of

enemy nationality are allowed to remain upon what is by

them considered to be British territory, unless it be that

the