از
baM..
191601)
6.213.
sir.
British Legation.
Peking.
July 17th 1917.
0.0.
48057
RECE (REG: 28 SEP 17
280
I have the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Consul-General at Shanghai re- garding the formation of a Vital Requirements Committee at Hongkong to control British shipping in Chinese waters.
I consider the apprehensions expressed by Messre Jar- dine Matheson and Company and Messrs Butterfield and Swire as to the damage to British shipping interests that is likely to occur if the British coasting trade in China le controlled from Hongkong to be well founded. The coastal services mentioned in their letter have taken much time and money to build up and any interference with them would certainly give the Japanese the opening for which they are waiting. The maintenance of the following services in par- ticular is regarded as essential:- Shanghai to Swatow, Hong-
and Canton to Tientsin. kong and Canton; Shanghai to Tientsin/ The importance of the other irregular services is approximately as follows Wuhu to Swatow and Canton; Newchwang to Swatow; Newchwang to Amoy and Canton,
I have as yet received no official intimation as to what measures are contemplated by His Majesty's Government with regard to China shipping but I trust that no defi-
nite
Right Honourable,
A.J. Balfour 0.M., M. P.,
etc., etc., etc.,
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