CO129-471 - Public Offices - 1921 — Page 69

ra

V

68

# 2103/8103/10.

Mora

FORRIGE OFFICE,

9.7.1.

June 86th, 1981.

y to Hen

Sir:-

to do and detaqual

M

MI: 7

1

With reference to Lord Milner's letter of

April 17th, 1980, (17188/1920) on the subject of the

proposed Customs Agreement between Hongkong and China, I am

directed by Earl Curson of Kedleston to enclose, for Mr.

Secretary Churchill's information, copy of a despatch

ressived from His Kajesty's Minister at Peking.

in

2. After a perusal of this despatch and the précis

attached Mr. Churchill will no doubt be able to enter into

the feelings of His Majesty's Representative at Peking, who

after prolonged discussing with the Chinese Government, and

after definitely committing His Majesty's Government,

accordance with his instructions, to an acceptance of the

agreement, was suddenly faced with a change of attitude on

the part of the Hongkong Government. How far that Govern-

Hent was justified in coming to the final decision it is not

for Lord Curzon to attempt to detemine, but the cardinal

fact must remain, as Mr. Churchill will doubtless agree, that,

if the Government of Hongkong bare definitely decided

against the conclusion of the agreement, no useful purpose

can be served by contiming the discussion further for the

present.

3. ▲ copy is enclosed of a despatch which is being

addressed to Sir B. Alston,

|

Under-Secretary of State,

Colonial Office.

I an,

Bir

Your most obedient,

humble Servant,

EVIATAN WELLER! EY