CO129-490 - Public Offices - 1925 — Page 710

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6.7.

Paraphrase telegram from the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the Governor of Hong Kong.

(Sent 7.15 p.m. 6th July 1925).

700

On June 30th Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs received

Portuguese Ambassador who wanted to know whether if Hacao

was attacked military or naval assistance could be afforded

6.7.

to the authorities there. It was made clear to him that

G.Grindle whether assistance could be rendered or not would depend on

what forces were available at the time and generally on the

circumstances then existing. At the same time the Ambassador

was informed that the protection of our own nationals was the

first duty of each one of us and that we were unlikely to be

able to spare troops from Hongkong. The Ambassador said that td.)P.A.C. he fully understood the position and he was sure thathis

Government would do so but he expressed the hope that in the

event of it being necessary to refuse assistance in a crisis

refusal to send help might be put on the ground that all

resources were fully occupied and there was no force to spare

and not on other grounds such as lack of instructions. He

suggested that it might be desirable for special instructions

to be sent to you to cooperate with Macao authorities during

the present disturbances. The Ambassador was informed in

reply that the representatives of the Powers were doubtless keeping in close touch during the present trouble; that we must necessarily leave wide discretion to authorities on the

spot and that in the circumstances special instructions were

not required.

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