CO129-460 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1920 [1-4] — Page 99

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No.

NUMBER AND DATE ONDULD ME QUOTED IN REFERENCE

TO THIS LETTER

130

(2)

98

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONGKONG

The original of this telegram (i.e. the actual figures and decypher) was shown to me and in the circumstances it is

a little difficultto accept the suggestion of the Secretary

General that the Governor of Kacao "had evidently misunder-

stood some instructions sent to him by the minister of the

Colonies".( see Sir L. Carnegie's telegram No 183 of the 22nd

of November). However as Captain Correia was doubtless in-

fringing regulations by showing me the original cypher I

hope that it will not be thought necessary to pursue this

point.

(3) Captain Correia informed me that the Governor was

apprehensive of an attack in force and that the troops in

Facao though sufficient to deal with a filibustering raid

such as might probably be connived at by the authorities

in Canton could not offer effective resistance to a regular

attack. He enquired therefore whether, if, called upon to

help, we would send assistance from Hongkong.

I informed Captain Correia that I had no knowledge of any

such promise as was referred to by the Portugese Colonial

Finistry in its telegram and that it was impossible for me

to undertake to send British troops to Macao without orders,

but that I would telegrah to your Lordship which I di d

accordingly on November 15th.