CO129-492 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1925 [12] - 1926 [1-5] — Page 347

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Enclosure 2

COPY OF DECODED TELEGRAM.

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.ROLEHIYOD

From: Governor, Hongkong (Clementi).

To : Secretary of State for Colonies. (Amery)

Date: 7th April, 1926.

:

CONFIDENTIAL.- Your telegram 1st April Shameen

and Swatow supplies. The reply to the last sentence

of (i) is in the affirmative. (ii) The river

Companies responded patriotically to the appeal

made and might even have made no claim for a shortar period. Their services were essential and included

carriage of mails but no claim was made till the

Companies foresaw the impending necessity of

discontinuing the service unless their direct losses

were made good. The directors have today resolved

that they must discontinue service a fortnight

hence unless assistance is received. (iii) One

steamer runa daily except on Sunday to Shameen and

one from there. (iv)It seems doubtful whether the

C.N.Co. will press their claim and the Douglas

Company have not yet made any. (v) Any attempt to

charge the small community of Shameen with the

total cost would result in immediate evacuation

and a serious blow to British prestige. Loss of

prestige would also follow reduction of sailings or employment of launches which are in any case not

suitable for passengers. We appear to be approaching

the possibility of a settlement and any sign of exhaustion is to be strongly deprecated.

leave Peking to reply to Foreign Office on

reduction of sailings to Swatow.

I

Governor.