CO129-498-4 Canton boycott- hostile acts of Canton Government and recommended action 6-2-1926 - 16-2-1926 — Page 11

Lot Lace

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to Canton, so long as relations between the Government of

that place and Great Britain continue to be abnormal. We fear

that there is no real desire for conciliation on the part of

the Government of Canton, which is only inclined to put an end to

the boycott on terms which would be humiliating to the Colony and

Great Britain.

A settlement would probably be welcomed by the bulk of the

population of Canton but they are terrorised by the Strike

Committee and are incapable of giving expression to their wishes.

In Central and Northern China anti-British feeling has subsided,

but as the result of Bolshevik influence over the Government of

Canton, there has been no improvement in this respect in Kuang Tugg

The suppression by the local Chinese Authorities of the extremist

elements in Central and Northern China, has rendered possible

there the realisation of the policy of conciliation.

The Government in Kuang Tung, on the other hand, actually

consists of the extremists.

On the 4th of February I stated in the Legislative Council

that the Government of Canton is expected and required by my

Government to stop the illegal activities of the Strike Committ ee;

that we consider thatthe responsibility rests on that Government

and that we are still willing to negotiate an honourable and

permanent settlement with the Government of Canton.

So far

the Canton Government has declined to enter into negotiations.

If they maintain this attitude in spite of my last offer, and

should no success attend the action under the Washington Treaty

which I have suggested, we shall have to consider whether the

risk involved in separate warlike action in Kuang Tung should

not be taken. In the event of war becoming unavoidable I

invite reference to my despatch of the 19th of January (secret)

We hope that in any statement which may be made in Parliament

the suggestion in the last sentence of the telegram of the 1st

February from His Majesty's Minister at Peking will

be emphasised.

in 3105/1505

4.

* l.l. the patience of H.M.G. may at-length

be Exhausted.

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