CO129-496 - Public Offices - 1926 — Page 251

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be reconsidered and the necessary instructions given to the consul-general. to the approval by His Majesty's Government of this procedure, I propose to despatch to the consul-general two letters in the following sense :-

(1.) First letter, a copy of which should be sent to Chen by consul-general. (For

text see my immediately following telegram.)

(2.) Second letter, the substance of which will be communicated verbally to Chen by consul-general. Letter will add that His Majesty's Government has sent him directions to attend and participate (it is hoped that he will receive such instructions from Peking) (The text of this letter is contained in a separate telegram which follows after (1) above.)

Delay in reply to invitation of Canton Government may produce bad effect, and The I should be glad if you would telegraph urgently whether you approve. proposed course of action has received the unanimous concurrence of the Executive Council,

(9.)

Governor of Hong Kong to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

(Telegraphic.) (First Letter.)

(Received Colonial Office, June 10, 1926.)

Hong Kong, June 10, 1926.

I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your despatch forwarding a letter addressed to me on 5th June by Mr. Chenyujen, Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs, Canton. In reply to the latter I shall be obliged if you will kindly inform Mr. Chenyujen that the strike in Hong Kong has long been a thing of the past, but that I have appointed the Hon. Mr. J. H. Kemp and the Hon. Mr. E. R. Hallifax as representatives of the Hong Kong Government to negotiate with the official repre- sentatives of the Canton Government a settlement of the anti-British boycott, and that I should be glad to learn when negotiations can be commenced.

I have only appointed two delegates as His Majesty's Minister at Peking has, authorised you to be a member of the delegation.

Ex

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I find the situation less unpromising than in February, and attribute this, amongst other things, to the more aggressive attitude of the navy since then, coupled with Mr. Brenan's way of handling local authorities. We shall be liable to waste the advantages already gained by the latter, as well as to spoil our wicket for any stronger action His Majesty's Government might favour in case of failure of negotiations. unless Mr. Brenan is authorised to participate in them and to use reasonable discretion in consultation with Hong Kong delegates to effect settlement.

"A settlement of the boycott of Hong Kong, which left Shamien and Swatow questions unsettled, thus affording excuse for continued existence of strike organisations, would be unsatisfactory. But Shamien and Swatow have nothing to do with Hong Kong, and could only be dealt with by Mr. Brenan. Mr. Brenan's personal qualifications also render his participation and, I should say, the chairmanship of British delegation desirable. The Governor, Hong Kong, has, I am sure, full confidence in him.

It is considered here quite possible that Chiang Kaishek hopes by effecting settlement to devote all his attention to more energetic military measures and propaganda against Hunan and/or Lower Yang-tsze, but I venture to urge that procedure for negotiations with Kwangtung, where immediate vital interests are at stake, should not be subordinated to the exigencies of the nebulous and shifting political situation in centre and north of China. With reference to paragraph 2 of your telegram. comparison between attitude of a civil Government or a military dictatorship in Canton seems to us here a very speculative basis for policy.

My advice is based on firm conviction that protection of British interests in China must inevitably and increasingly depend, with or without approval by His Majesty's Government, on direct relations with the provinces rather than with a succession of phantom Governments in Peking, but I should have hesitated to express this unorthodox view unless I had found warm support for it with His Majesty's consuls-general, Shanghai, Canton and with the Governor of Hong Kong."

(Addressed to Peking, No. 59: repeated to Hong Kong.)

(12.)

(10.)

Governor of Hong Kong to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

(Telegraphic.) (Second Letter.)

Sir R. Macleay to Sir Austen Chamberlain.-(Received June 8.)

(No. 209.) (Telegraphic,) R.

Peking, June 8, 1926.

Following received from acting consul-general, Canton —

My telegram No. 203.

(Received Colonial Office, June 10, 1926.)

My telegram No, 55.

***

Hong Kong, June 10, 1926.

With reference to my letter of even date, I trust that you may yourse able to attend and participate in the forthcoming conference with Messrs. Kemp Hallifax with Messrs. Chenyujen, Sung Tszman and Chankungpok. If so, I bat the honour to request you to inform Mr. Chen that you do so at the request and with the full concurrence of the Hong Kong Government.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, without waiting for assurance demanded, and disregarding alternatives previously offered, has now addressed letter to Governor of Hong Kong through me inviting appointment of three pleni- potentiary delegates to negotiate Canton-Hong Kong strike.

"Reason for haste is, I think, urgent need for funds, which Canton Govern- ment hope in one form or another to get from Hong Kong.

In any case, I trust that instructions regarding claims will still be sent to me, as question is bound to arise.

(Addressed to Peking, No. 56; repeated to Hong Kong.) "*

(11.)

(13.)

British Consul General, Canton, to Sir Austen Chamberlain.--(Received June 12.)

(No. 25.)

(Telegraphic.)

Following from Mr. O'Malley

Canton (riâ Hong Kong), June 12, 1926.

Your telegram No. 203 to Foreign Office, and Hong Kong telegram Colonial Office of 10th June.

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Sir Austen Chamberlain to Sir R. Macleay (Peking),

(No. 176.) Telegraphic.)

Foreign Office, June 11, 1926. Your telegram No. 209, and Hong Kong telegram of 10th June repeated direct to you.

My immediately following telegram contains text of draft reply, which, after inter-departmental consultation, Colonial Office propose should be returned to

ernor of Hong Kong, subject to your approval.

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