PARAPHRASE TELEGRAM from the Governor of Hong Kong to
the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
Dated 16th September.
273
(Received Colonial Office 11.54 a.m. 16th September 1926)
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Secret. Very urgent. Repeated to Reking No.14.
At meeting today Executive Council expressed unanimous concurrence in my telegram of 13th September. It is our belief that a unique opportunity has now arisen of bringing about rapid termination of boycott by independent warlike action on our part without running more than minimum of risk of creating unfavourable effect either on foreign Powers or on situation elsewhere in China. Chinese here and even in Canton cordially welcomed naval action taken 4th September; indeed the only comment was that such action was long overdue. It is possible that further action may succeed without a shot being fired (see the proposals contained in Admiral Stirling's telegram of 15th September to Admiralty) and in these circumstances the risks of causing unfavourable effect by warlike action are reduced to a minimm.
I consider that action by us now would result in Kwangtung in risings against the Canton Government throughout the Province and would almost certainly save situation on the Yangtse by determining Sun Chuan Fang to act against Chiang Kai Shek.
I understand that Eugene Chen gave Brenan verbal assurance on 14th September that Cantonese troops on the Yangtse would be instructed by telegraph to cease firing on foreign shipping. In my view verbal assurances of this kind are entirely worthless. Apart from this there has been no
answer
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