CO129-496 - Public Offices - 1926 — Page 250

8

(b.) I prefer letter to be addressed by Chen to Brenan stating that Cantonese delegation, which will be invested with full power to negotiate as principals, and which will be composed, as Chen suggests, of Chen himself, Chung Kung Pok and Sung Tszman, will be prepared to meet Brenan, Kemp and Hallifax for the purpose of negotiating a settlement of the anti-British trouble throughout Kwangtung.

(c.) I should be willing for reply accepting proposal to be addressed to Minister

for Foreign Affairs, &c., as Chen desires.

(No. 203.)

(6.)

Sir R. Macleay to Sir Austen Chamberlain,—(Received June 7.)

(Telegraphic.)

Shanghai [sic: Canton] telegram No. 23.

Peking, June 7, 1926.

My immediately preceding [sic: following] telegrams are repetitions of messages from acting consul-general at Canton and Governor of Hong Kong, in regard to which I would submit the following observations:—

The recently reconstructed Government in Canton, which would appear to be in the nature of a military dictatorship, supported by Soviet agents and supplied with Soviet arms and ammunition, seems to me, in view of the expulsion of the more moderate elements, to have less claim than ever to be recognised as a Nationalist Government, or even as representative of the city or province of Canton.

While I naturally do not wish to stand in the way of reopening of negotiations for settlement of boycott, I do feel that at a moment when this Canton Government is actively preparing a military expedition against adherents of Wu Pei-fu, who is one of the principal members of coalition formed to suppress Feng's army and to establish a more conservative and anti-Bolshevik Government in Peking, it would be unwise to take any step which might encourage extreme Canton faction in the belief that His Majesty's Government are prepared to recognise them as an independent Government, or which might be so interpreted by their opponents.

I therefore consider the more prudent course would be to treat the boycott in Kuangtung Province as a purely local question between Hong Kong and Canton to be settled by negotiators appointed by Hong Kong Government and de facto Government in Canton without intervention of acting consul-general as "Imperial representative"; in fact, I would recommend the adoption of course (a) in Mr. Brenan's telegram in preference to (b).

If Mr. Eugene Chen (whom, incidentally, and in spite of his apparently friendly gesture, I regard with grave suspicion as a dangerous and unscrupulous adventurer) chooses to address a communication to the Governor of Hong Kong, suggesting the reopening of negotiations and describing himself as Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nationalist Government of Canton, I see no reason why acting consul-general should not forward it to the Governor or why the latter in his reply should not give Mr. Chen the title he has assumed, as this would not. I presume, commit His Majesty's Government to recognition either of Mr. Chen's right to such a title or of independence of Canton Government.

As an additional precaution against possible misunderstanding and misrepresentation of attitude of His Majesty's Government, and in order to give them a handle in the event of failure of negotiations and prolongation of present intolerable situation. I would suggest that Mr. Brenan should only act as intermediary for exchange of communications between the parties and that he should take no part in negotiations.

I agree with the Governor of Hong Kong in thinking that question whether claims of British subjects for losses incurred in the province should be demanded of Canton Government is one which should be left to the discretion of Hong Kong negotiators and which must depend on the course of the negotiations and the nature; of the claims put in by the other side.

(Repeated to Hong Kong and Canton.)

(7.)

Sir R. Macleay to Sir Austen Chamberlain. (Received June 7.)

(No. 205.) (Telegraphic.)

My telegram No. 203.

Peking, June 7, 1926.

Following received from Hong Kong, 7th June, unnumbered :-

K

Telegram from His Majesty's consul-general at Canton 4th June. "This Government is ready to reopen negotiations with Canton as soon as possible. Should prefer letter addressed to yourself by Minister for Foreign Affairs. Letter should state that Cantonese delegation as described in your telegram, with full powers to negotiate as principals, will be prepared to meet yourself. Kemp and Hallifax to negotiate settlement of anti-British trouble throughout Kuangtung. I would be willing that reply should be addressed to Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nationalist Government [ of Canton] accepting this proposal. As regards claims against Canton, full instructions will be given to our delegates, who will be able to discuss the matter with you.'

(8.)

Governor of Hong Kong to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. (Received Colonial Office, June 10, 1926.)

(Telegraphic.) P.

The following has been repeated to Peking with reference to Sir R. Macleay's

Hong Kong, June 10, 1926. telegram No. 203 to Foreign Office :-

The consular body has just been notified by the Canton Minister for Foreign Affairs that in future the Minister for Foreign Affairs will deal directly with the consular body, since steps have been taken to abolish the provincial post of Commissioner for Foreign Affairs, which was formerly the channel of communica tion between the consuls and the Canton Government. The source of my information is Brenan, who is at present in Hong Kong. As there is no one else with whom to communicate the consuls will have no alternative but to address their letters to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Canton," and if, as Macleay suggests, Brenan is to act as intermediary for the Hong Kong Government, he will have to follow this procedure. Canton is not, however, out for de jure recognition as an independent Government and the point does not seem to me to be of serious importance.

On the 5th June I received a letter from Eugene Chen, who had evidently written to me without waiting for reply from Brenan. The letter was in the following terms —

The Canton Government is prepared to open negotiations with your Government regarding the Canton-Hong Kong strike and will appoint for the purpose three delegates with plenipotentiary powers. The Canton Government believes that your Government will consider it advisable to follow a like course and for the purpose of negotiations appoint an equal number of delegates with similar powers."

The proper channel of communication between Canton and Hong Kong is the Colonial Office confidential despatch, the 10th August, 1911), and I propose to reply consul-general (see Foreign Office letter, the 24th July, 1911, No. 26864, and not direct but through consul-general.

essential. Further, in order that the anti-British trouble throughout Kwangtung That the consul-general should be present at the discussions is, in my opinion, may be settled in one conference, I consider it very desirable that he should be authorised to participate in the discussions as a negotiator. I realise, of course, that, as the matter how stands, the views expressed by His Majesty's Minister, Peking, prevent Brenan from taking this course, but I hope that these views will

[14831]

C

248

Fre