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This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government, and should be
returned to the Foreign Office if not required for official use.])
CHINA
!
ITICAL
Decypher.
Sir R. Macleay (Peking).
14th December 1923,
D. 6.0 p.m. 14th December 1923.
R.
6.25 p.m. 14th December 1923.
No. 276.
My telegram No.274.
Governor of Hong Kong at the request of emissary from Sun Yat-sen has telegraphed to me message from latter re-stating his application for share of customs surplus, reiterating arguments about surplus released to Peking being used to further warlike operations against Kwangtung, and renewing threat in the event of refusal to retaliate against Hong Kong by boycotts. Governor strongly urges us to yield to Sun Yat-sen's dorands in view of enormous trade interests which would be ruined by open breach, or, if action is finally taken against him,to keep in background as much as possible, leaving it to other powers who are less vulnerable as regards boycotts in south China to take the lead in such action, and adds that if question of blockade is raised again he cannot allow colony to be forced into taking active part in such drastic action without explicit instructions from His Majesty's Government to whom he is reporting.
I have replied referring to diplomatic body's reply to Sun Yat-sen which explains why we cannot intervene, and pointing out that we are not taking lead but, like other powers concerned, consider it
of
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