CO129-454 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1919 [4-6] — Page 304

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.Ligier

COPY.

Enclosure

7.

Dear Jamieson,

300

Colonial Secretary's Office,

Hongkong, 18th. Mar, 1919.

With reference to your letter of the

14th. March, Mr. Loh Tseng has come to Hongkong on the subject of the Kwang Lee and Mr. Severn received him this morning.

Mr. Loh Taeng opened with a statement that the vessel had been taken by the Tater Police without the knowledge of the Military Governor, and he began to suggest a compromise to the effect that we should return all the gunboats, if the Kwang Lee came back in the first instance. Mr. Severn informed him very plainly that he was not prepared to discuss the matter at all. He must ask for the immediate and unconditional return of the vessel, with a suitable apology; failiing which he must take further steps.

I may say, for your private information, that we have asked the Minister to press it Chinese Government to make arrangements for the early removal of all the gunboats; and

separate unless that Government can make its arrangements it is quite

the

possible that we shall send them back to Canton, as they canno teli remain where they are in the typhoon season.

It is out of the question to do anything

in the matter of the munitions unless the Southern Authorities can cajole a consent out of the Chinese Government. It would only make confusion worse confounded if we were to play hot and cold first with one side and then with the other.

Yours sincerely,

(Sd.) M. Fletcher.

E. G. Jamieson, Esq.,

His Britamic Majesty's Consulate-General,

CANTON.