CO129-492 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1925 [12] - 1926 [1-5] — Page 243

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of

a letter, dated 24th February, which Lord Willingdon has written to me in reply to mine of the 4th february.

4.

On the 17th March Lord willingdon telegraphed to me that his delegation proposed to

come to Hongkong, leaving Shanghai by the "Empress of Russia" on the 23ra March, and he inquired whether in my opinion this would be desirable in view of the consular changes being made at Canton. I infer from this telegram that Lord Willingdon has it in mind to go on from Hongkong to Canton, but is doubtful whether the time would be opportune in view of the fact that Mr. J.F.Brenan, now acting as H.M.Consul at snangnai, is about to take the place of bir James Jamieson as H.M.Consul General at vanton.

I also infer from this telegram and from the

X

sif Cabinet fact that your telegram of the 4th March, which

237

replies in detail to mine of the 6th February, makes

no mention of the boxer Indemnity question, that H.M's Government has not yet sent definite instructions to Lord willingdon to refrain from visiting Canton until the anti- british boycott has been removed. Accordingly I telegraphed yesterday to Lord willingdon that the visit of his delegation to Hongkong would be very welcome

and opportune at the present time but that this Government is emphatically of opinion that his

delegation should not visit Canton until the

anti-british boycott had been entirely removed.

I added that I had telegraphed to you in this sense,

5.

In my telegram to you of the 18th

6309

March