CO129-428 - Public Offices - 1915 — Page 64

62

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mt infiutiul in the tilgums!

ASA.

11th November, 1915.

12.1

My dear Ital. Maitland

I am much obliged for your letter, and hope that we will be able to block the German shipments from Canton as far as possible. I must confess I am not very much im- pressed with the Foreign Office answers as to the necessity for our retaining Germans upon our Concession in Shameen (Canton). I know that does not come under your Office, but, as it is so closely connected with Hongkong, perhaps you do not mind my mentioning it.

I understand the British residents have petitioned

that all Germans should be ejected. If they were, they would have to live in the Chinese City, and it would put them to great inconvenience. But we are at war, and, if Shameen belonged to the Germans > our people would not be allowed to sit on their Concession in ease and comfort, and carry on their trade plots and business against them at their leisure. I understand that Sir John Jordan does not favour the policy of eviction, and I have a very great respect for his judgment. I, therefore, have not moved in the matter in the House, but I should be very interested to know what his reasons are. I do not think the Germans, if they were evicted from Shameen, could carry on their trade as conveniently as they do at present, and the profits of

their trade of course go to Germany

Yours sincerely,

at