CO129-464 - Public Offices - 1920 — Page 265

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be retired from boundary and that arrangements be come to with North for appointing a joint delimitation Commission irmtediately.

Portuguese Consul-General has been told by me that he should suggest to His Excellency a complete suspension of all works such as those to which Chinese take exception.

I

Yesterday I received from British subject a telegram stating that rioting had occurred at Chien Shan and that attack on life and property was apprehended. accordingly,asked Naval authorities to despatch British war vessel for purposes of observation, as, Kacao being a nest of characters of worst description, even Portuguese

might be unable to cope with mob outbreak.

I have every hope that precipitate action will

be taken by neither Government (Ends)

(End of R).

I fear it is futile for Goverment of Macao to ask for a joint delimitation Commission to be appointed at present.

Some

Such a Commission spent months in 1909 in examining question and failed to come to any settlement. There was far more chance then than there is now of effecting an arrangement acceptable to Chinese.