CO129-440 - Others & Individuals - 1916 — Page 440

(ENCLOSURES TO 8 IN ABOVE

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213. The preceding rule requiring transmission of Secretary of State through the Governor is based on the strongest gr in order that all communications may be duly verified, as well as the Secretary of State. It extends therefore to communication re as to the concern of the writer, to those from all public functionaries those from public bodies.

SIR,

SIR,

439

Hongkong, 16th March, 1916.

I have to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 14th instant.

The Hon. Mr. H. E. Pollock, without any application for my sanction, has made use of my name in a manner which was not warranted by any conversation I had with him and has represented views which I do not remember giving expression to in a light favourable to his petition with a view of explaining the absence of my signature therefrom.

My personal views on the subject dealt with in the petition are not fully crystalized and I thought I made it clear to Mr. Pollock that I could not support any changes in the Government here without first being given time to submit them to those I represent at home.

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Colonial Sec

Hen

141)

The Honourable

Mr. CLAUD SEVERN,

Colonial Secretary,

Hongkong.

I am directed to inform you that a petition addressed to the Sect the Colonies has been forwarded to His Excellency the Governor by Mr. H. a covering letter to the Secretary of State a passage occurs, of which I encla am to enquire whether it reports correctly what you said to Mr. Pollock.

I enclose a copy of the petition in order that you may see its objec request you to be so good as to return it to me with your reply.

I am, Sir,

Your obedient servant,

(Sď.) DAVID LANDALE.

The Honourable

Mr. DAVID LANDALE,

I am, Sir,

Your obedient

SIR,

Hongkong, 16th March, 1916.

SIR,

I am directed to inform you that a petition addressed to the Se the Colonies has been forwarded to His Excellency the Governor by Mr. F a covering letter to the Secretary of State the following passage occurs :-

"Mr. Shellim wrote to me that he was sorry that he could "signing the petition as he did not consider the time opportune, I "he agreed with it and thought that it would have a better chance it

'at a more fitting opportunity."

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I am to ask you to be so good as to let me have a copy of the let

if you have not got one, to inform me whether you are reported correct' have quoted.

I enclose a copy of the petition in order that you may see asked to sign and I should be obliged if you would return it to me with

I am, Sir, Your obedient sery

In reply to your letter of the 14th March, No. 2003/1915, I have the honour to inform you that I am correctly reported in the passage quoted by you.

I beg to point out, however, that my letter was supplementary to a conversation I had with Mr. Pollock in which I expressed the view that some well considered concessions might well be made by the Government but I did not consider the present an opportune time to raise the question. My letter should be read entirely with reference to such conversation which did not refer in any way to the details of the petition or proposals which I had not considered and which it was impossible for me to study in the time then at my disposal.

I am emphatically of opinion that at this stage of the Great War in which the Nation is engaged, it is out of place to bring forward a question of the nature of the petition.

I am, Sir, Your obedient servant,

(Sd.) E. SHELLIM.

The Honourable

The Colonial Secretary.