CO129-488 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1925 [1-7] — Page 466

strikers abriken

brought

out

absence of

an

Th

Gorsuer

Ada

Li-

half heated

and

Autre

only

ponos

promm

Caulon

The

anti- foreign feeling

marked

aud

but for

intimidation

kan would be

مال

strike.

¦

29th June,

1925.

453

Dear Hankinson,

I am afraid it is impossible for the Admiralty to promise the presence of a Cruiser at Hong Kong. The distribution of ships on the station must necessarily

be left to the discretion of the Commander-in-Chief, who

is now at Shanghai and is in touch with the Minister at Pekin as well as with Hong Kong. There are so many places

with important British communities which are entirely dependent on the Navy for protection that it is difficult to see how Hong Kong with its defences can substantiate a claim to the presence of a Cruiser. Of course it is

recognised that the situation at Canton is very tense,

but I am not aware that Hong Kong has anything to fear from that quarter, and there are Gunboats in the West River to help in the protection of Shameen. I do not

think a Cruiser could go up to Canton. No doubt as the

situation varies changes will be made in the disposition

of ships on the station and visits of Cruisers to Hong Kong may take place from time to time; in fact the "Brisbane" is on her way there now, and in that connection you have, no doubt, seen a telegram from Australia on the

subject