CO129-483 - Others & Individuals - 1923 — Page 226

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consists in unfriendly personal relations between Sir

J. Jamieson and Sir R. Stubba.

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There are very conflicting views as regards the policy adopted during the Hong Kong strike, Our late

Ministerat Peking, Sir B. Alston, in a despatch of 6th

Governor March 22 says "In these circumstances the Hong Kong could

have no alternative but to disband the Seaman's Union

and to adopt the firm attitude which has ultimately led to

a settlement." Sir J. Jamieson's views are, of course, entirely different, and we could scarcely dispute the view that it was largely owing to his good relations with the Canton Government and the confidence he inspired in the community that he was enabled to suggest a satisfactory

compromise. We cannot defend the remark of the Governor

that "Jamieson was quite useful" especially the "quite".

But the remark was made in a private letter and Sir R. Stubba has secured or assumed for himself a privilege of

caustic expression which he may intend (it is not always

clear) to be taken humourously.

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Anyhow, we have officially

accepted the Governor's views as to the policy adopted in

Hong Kong and we have approved of his actions. In bringing

up the question of the strike again as in the Foreign

Office Memorandum it seems scarcely fair to omit mention

of the measures taken as a result of it to secure closer

co-operation between Canton and Hong Kong.

As to the incident last mentioned in the Foreign

Office memorandum, we have received a telegram from Sir R.

Stubba stating that he is interning the launch in accord-

ance with a request from Peking, that he will report fully

by