CO129-492 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1925 [12] - 1926 [1-5] — Page 519

PARAPHRASE TELEGRAM from the Secretary of State for the

Colonies to the Ögvernor of ilong Kang.

(Sent 8.30 p.m., 26th March, 1926.)

500

Priority. Repeat to Canton and "sking.

Secret. Canton situstion. I have been in consultation with Foreiɛn Offies regarding your teleɛrımı 23rd March and what follows is the result of our dis- cussion in the light of your further telegram of the 25th Hareb and of Peking telegrama Nos. 129 and 133.

(1) re do not consider that it would be expedient at this junctur» to present formally claim for dema:"GE, But you may intimate in course of negotiations,

if you vish, that His Eajesty's Goverment are considerin: such a claim in the event of a settlement not being speedily reached,

There would be no objection to a protest against violation of treaty rights but if such pretest is made in the form of a nɔte on lines rronesed in your telegram of 4th March it is suggested that

(a) Some chrose such as "Goverment zetually mxercising authority in Canton' should be sustituted for the term "de facto Severnment" in paragraph 4. While the latter tere is not insecurate it has been so

mach canvassed lately that it might further measure of resounition.

to imply some

(b) Appeal in paragrache 3-and 3 should be simely to Treaties of Hankin and Tientsin or even to Treaty rights in general and reference should not be made te specific articles of the Tre-tion.

(2) Loan question. The following serious difficulties present themselves,

(1)