CO129-457 - Public Offices - 1919 — Page 616

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PARAPHRASE TELEGRAM

Sir L.Carnegie (Lisbob)

D. 12.55 a.m.

R. 10.55 p.m.

REC

CO

67979 FILES ONLY

November 22nd, 1919.

November 22nd, 1919.

No.183.

603

With reference to your telegram 214 and 215 Yesterday

I saw Secretary General of Ministry for Foreign Affairs and referred to certain remarks made in Parliament by Minister for Foreign Affairs relative to Macao. To my question whether dis- pute with Chinese Government in regard to dredging operations near that port was being settled he replied that Chinese (?were) (?absolutely) unreasonable in the matter; and that language of Chinese Chargé d'Affaires had been menacing as he had told Portuguese Government that if operations were continued they would be responsible for any thing that occurred. He believed that (? Chargé d'Affaires) was speaking rather on his own account than on that of his Government.

Secretary General told me that instructions had been given to Portuguese Chargé d'Affaires in London to speak to Your Lordship on question, and that he had informed his Government that His Majesty's Representative at Peking was being instructed by you to persuade Chinese Government to be more conciliatory.

Secretary General spoke of his own accord of telegram sent to Governor of Hong Kong bb Governor of Macao (? and omitted) said that latter had evidently misunderstood some in- structions sent to him beber by Minister of Colonies. see my despatch No.152 November 13th on this subject.

(23.11.8-4).

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