Paraphrase telegram from the Governor of nongkong
to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
Dated 26th July.
(Received Colonial Office 6.45 p.m. 26th July 1926)
317
Secret. Canton negotiations. Please see telegram No. 32 of 24th July from His Majesty's Acting Consul- General to Foreign Office. Following has been repeated to Peking No.3 and has unanimous concurrence of Executive Council.
Conference has been adjourned sine die in order that (a) Chinese delegates may consult their Government on loan proposal (b) His Majesty's Government may be consulted by British delegates on proposal for commission of enquiry into Shamsen incident of 23rd June 1925. Kemp and Hallifax accordingly returned to Hongkong on the 24th July.
Following are objections to suggested commission
of enquiry:- (1) great delay. It was stated by Cantonese that they would await the termination of the enquiry before removing boycott
(2) To enable commission to be constituted it would be necessary to obtain the consent of France as well as that of one nation not involved in the dispute. Moreover it would be essential that evidence should be given by Consuls and nationals of other Powers and the latter would have to agree to this.
(3) Pro-British chinese witnesses would be afraid to give evidence. Evidence to suit its case could easily be manufactured by Canton Government. And at this date attendance or evidence of non-Chinese witnesses would be very difficult to secure.
(4)
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.