CO129-437 - Public Offices - 1916 — Page 438

Copy. (140745)

No. 102.

Confidential.

C.

34870

REC

REG 25 JUL

Sir

H.M. Consulate General.

Shanghai.

June 22nd. 1916.

436

I have the honour to transmit herewith copy

of a letter dated 30th March, 1916, addressed

by the American Secretary of State to the German

Ambassador at Washington stating that, relative

to the Censorship by the British Authorities at Hongkong of mail intended for German subjects at

Canton, instructions have been issued to the appro-

priate officials to despatch via Shanghai, exclusively

the mails from the United States for the Chinese Post

Office at Canton.

This letter which was addressed to G. Pernay,

Esquire, (namely Dr. G. Pernitsch of the German Con-

sulate General at Shanghai) was intercepted at Shang-

hai in the course of censoring and a copy has been sent

by the Postmaster here to the Postmaster General at

Hongkong.

I am instructing the Master of British ships who

clear from Shanghai for Canton via Hongkong to notify

the Hongkong Postal Authorities on arrival in each

case when they carry Chinese Postal bags, for Canton but I ra-

fher fancy that some of the Chinese mail for Canton is

being landed at Swatow and sent overland to Canton

in order to escape British censoring.

Copy of this despatch has been sent to His Majestye

Minister at Peking, the Governor of Hongkong and

His Majesty's Consul at Swatow.

The Right Honourable.

(Signed)

I have, etc.,

H. PHILLIPS.

Acting Consul General.

Sir Edward Grey Bart. K.G., M.P.,