CO129-476 - Acting Governor Claud Severn & Governor Sir Stubbs - 1922 [8-12] — Page 40

MINUTES.

MINUTES NOT TO BE WRITTEN ON THIS SIDE.

SECRET.

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONGKONG. 3rd August, 1922.

39

Yo

46325

onclosure 1.

Enclosure 2.

Sir,

With reference to your despatch No.359 of

the 4th November, 1921, I have the honour to transmit a

copy of a telegram, dated the 12th July, in which the

Secretary of the General Post Office, London, has reported

the definite decision to close the British Post Offices in

China before the end of the year. I enclose also a copy

of a circular which was subsequently issued by Mr. S. B. C.

Ross, Postmaster General, Hongkong, to the various Postal

Agente.

2.

Shortly after the publication of this

circular Mr. Ross happened to meet a French Postal Agent from China, who is a personal friend, and, in the course of a conversation on general subjects, conducted in French, the question of the closing of the Agencies was touched upon. The French Agent expressed great admiration for British diplomacy in announcing that the Agencies would be closed when of course there was no intention of doing so. He stated that he had no orders nor was he expecting any. He went so far as to assert that the French and Japanese would not close their agencies, and that Great Britain would also retain her agencies, taking credit for her published intention to close her agencies, which she could not give

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

WINSTON CHURCHILL, M.P.,

&C..

&c..

effect