CO129-493 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1926 [6-8] — Page 369

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NOTES OF PROCEEDINGS No. 5.

QUINTED FOR UNE;

• Eastern

COLONIAL

No. 10-4

In accordance with arrangements made between the Consul-General and Mr. Chên at the Foreign Office in an

interview on the 22nd. July, meeting No. 5 was held at 10/30 a.m. (Friday) the 23rd. July. Arrangements as

before.

Mr. Brenan read British delegation's statement Mr. Chen then read the formal proposal of the Chinese

delegation on the Commission of Enquiry.

Mr BRENAN: If Shakee is to be the subject of the

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Shameen is not all British,

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Enquiry by the Commission, we fail to see how it is

possible to exclude the French.

British and French forces acted together on 'June 23rd., and,

no doubt, some of the deaths on Shakee were due to French

fire. French cooperation in the enquiry is, therefore,

necessary and a French Judge would have to be added to those

suggested by you.

We ask information on certain points connected

with the Enquiry. Would the Canton Government make the

necessary arrangements? As concerns preliminary expenses,

is the Canton Government prepared to pay for the Judges,

their passages and other expenses? Would the Canton

Government make a deposit for security against such immediate

damages as the cost of bringing the witnesses here, apart

from such damages as may be adjudged in the finding on the

boycott.

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The suggestion for an Enquiry puts us at a disadvantage, It may be impossible, for instance, to produce some of our essential witnesses, while the Cantu Government has all

ite witnesues here. The reading of statements is of less

value than oral testimony.

Evidence of events more than

a year old loses much of its value as it is impossible to

expect

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