CO129-488 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1925 [1-7] — Page 685

COPY

650

TO CHINA ASSOCIATION LONDON,

(COPY TO BE TELEGRAPHED TO SHANGHAI AND TO CHARCH

TO. AT TIMES, BRITIS LEGATION, PRKING)

IN VIEW OF VERY CRITICAL SITUATION UNANIMOUS

OPINION OUR CHAMBER ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL FOR PROTECTION

BRITISH LIVES PROPERTY IN CHINA YANGTSZE AND CANTON DELTA

GUNBOATS BE INCREASED BY NOT LISS THAN TWELVE DISTRIBUTED

NORTH AND SOUTH CHINA AND FLOTILLA ΠDESTROYERS PLUS NOT

LESS THAN TWO AEROPLANE CHARRIES STOP ALSO ESSENTIAL

BATTALION ENGLISH TROPS BE TRANSFERRED HERE EARLIEST

POSSIBLE DATE STOP CONDITIONS ETHEMELY SERIOUS BRITISH

LIVES COAST PORTS AND RIVER STATIONS MENACED STOP ALL

BRITISH TRADE PARALYSED BY STRIKES AND BOYCOTT LHICH MUST

LEAD TO MANY BANKRUPTCIES CANNOT TOO STRONGLY URGE

NEGOTIATIONS BE ACCELERATED AND CHINESE GOVERNMENT WARNED

WILL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR BRITISH TRADE AND PROPERTY

LOSSES STOP NO REVISION CUSTOMS TARIFT OR DISCUSSION VIDER

QUESTIONS SHOULD BE AGREED TO TILL THE STRIKES AND

BOYCOTT CALLED OFF EVERYWHERE STOP FURTHER IT SHOULD BE

CLEARLY RECOGNISED AT HOME THAT CANTON SITUATION WILL

REQUIRE TO BE DEALT WITH SEPARATELY AND IN CONSULTATION

WITH HONGKONG VITALLY INTERESTED STRONGLY AND FORCIBLY SINCE ANY DECISION REACHED WITH CENTRAL GOVERNMENT WOULD

HAVE NO INFLUENCE WITH PRESENT CANTON AUTHORITIES PLEASE

COMMUNICATE FOREGOING TO MANCHESTER CHAMBER COMMERCE

HONGKONG CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,

Date 22nd July, 1925.