288
Assuming that you will acquiesce in
this in the circumstances, the next question waS how we were to guard against the removal of the boycott being made dependent on the additional taxation. Here we found that the Foreign Office did not anticipate opposition from the Inspector General ofCustoms and thought they could get round any possible objections by foreign powers. This father alters the case. We suggested that we should try to separate the two questions in advance. The Foreign Office view was that Chen had not explicitly made the removal dependent on the taxation, and that for us to say anything about it now in writing might give him an excuse for doing so, and that it would be better tactics to
It would be easier make this point verbally.
to insist onthe two questions being kept separate if we dealt with them in this way. This is a matter of diplomatic tactics which I presume we must leave to the Foreign Office.
The
important thing is that they agree that we are not to tolerate any attempt to make bessation af the boycott depend on the taxes, and are to act energetically if necessary and if in the interval we can keep them up to that we shall have secured what we want, though with some delay.
I armex a note of our conference with the naval and military authorities at the Foreign Office yesterday from which you will see that they are taking seriously our suggestion of minor
measures in lieu of a blockade. We shall
of course try to have a plan of action ready before the 10th October. The Comedore is pressing the practicability of his proposals and I hope
he will convert the Admiral and the Admiralty.
We may acquiesce inthe ForeignOffice telegram herewith, especially now that it contains some promise of action after the 10th October? I submit for approval atelegram to Hongkong to
in which, if you approve
supplement it,
Generally,
we must get for 0. concurtena.
21 Sept. 1526
ܥܐ .ܶ
G.G
measure B
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