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

(S)ES PARAPHRASE TELEGRAM from the Governor of Hong Kong to

Hards

74 3105/28

670/3105726

95

Dated 6th February 1916

Secretary of State for the Colonies. (Received Colonial Office, 9.20 a.m., 6th February,1926).

I am repeating this telegram to Peking and Canton.

I have received from His Majesty's Minister Peking

copies of telegram No.35 from the Foreign Office and of his reply dated the 1st February (No.10) A copy of a

of telegram dated the 2nd February (No.5) from His Majesty's Consul-General Canton to the Foreign Office has also been

sent to me. Barton is in the Colony (on a visit from

Shanghai); I have taken counsel with him and O'Malley.

On the oth of February they both depart for Shanghai. In addition I have discussed with Hallifax, Kemp and

Tratman. What follows represents our unanimous opinion.

(g) It would be correct to look upon the Government of

Canton as a rebel Government in insurrection against Peking'

and other parts of China. We understand from His Majesty's Consul at Swatow that it is at present engaged in offensive operations against Fukien. In our opinion

actual hostilities in Kuang Tung would not constitute

recognition of an Independent Government in Canton. We consider however that such hostilities in Kuang Tung are

not at present to be recommended. In our opinion the time

has gone by for warlike action to be undertaken in Kuang

Tung by Great Britain alone except at the risk of

jeopardising our future economic relations with Chine. We

are however of the opinion that it would be advantageous

if very strong pressure could be brought to bear on the

representatives in London of the Chief Maritime Powers

with a view to joint action being taken at this juncture.

The action which we suggest was outlined in my telegram of

the 26th of January.

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