CO129-492 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1925 [12] - 1926 [1-5] — Page 113

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in central and northern China the position in

Kuang-tung has not yet improved owing to Bolshevik

influence over the Canton Government. In central and

northern China the policy of conciliation was

fruitful owing to the suppression of the extremist

elements there by the Chinese local authorities.

In Kuang-tung on the contrary the extremists actually

form the Government.

18.

The 13th February is Chinese New

Year's Day; and if, after it has passed, the Canton Government still persists in refusing to negotiate

with the Hongkong Government, and if the action

suggested under article 7 of the Washington Nine

Power Treaty proves ineffectual, then it will be

necessary to consider very carefully whether the

risks we run in allowing the anti-British boycott to continue inuang-tung are not greater than the risk of independent warlike action in Kuang-tung for the purpose of ending the boycott. Already the Chinese in this Colony are getting restive at the long continued inaction of the British Government, They freely ask each other the question, and they even ask of me, why does Great Britain tolerate the

upon insults and illegalities inflicted British subjecta by strike pickets in Kuang-tung. We are daily losing prestige, while the Bolsheviks are to all outward

appearance as strong as ever in this province. Heavy losses are king inflicted upon both the British and the Chinese merchants of Hongkong. The trouble is festering and threatens to become chronic. Plainly it cannot be allowed to continue indefinitely.

We hope, therefore, that in any statement on the

political situation in Kuang-tung made by HM's

Government