CO129-500-1 Canton situation- governor's despatches 18-5-1927 - 9-6-1927 — Page 113

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Foochow, Ningpo and Shanghai as follows:- "Demands

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for apology, punishment and compensation have been presented to Canton Government for firing on British ship by soldiers at Whampoa. If not complied with on or before May 23rd, forts will be attacked by Navy. Be ready for local repercussion."

15. A very difficult position had thus been created, for Sir R. Tyrwhitt's telegram of the 19th May appeared to indicate that in his opinion the whole affair was too trivial for any punitive action whatever, as none had been possible at the moment of the outrage, while His Majesty's Consul-General at Canton had nevertheless presented to the Canton Government a

written ultimatum with time-limit expiring on the 23rd May, and had warned all British Consulates in South China that "forts would be attacked by the Navy", if

the demands in the ultimatum were not complied with.

16. Accordingly, I held a further conference on the 20th May, attended by General Luard, Rear-Admiral

Boyle, Commodore Pearson, Mr. Southorn, Sir J.H. Kemp

and Mr. Hallifax. We were unanimously of opinion

that, in view of the fact that Mr. Brenan had already

presented an ultimatum with a time-limit expiring on

23rd May, it was essential that some retaliation should

take place, should his demands, which were very moderate

not be complied with. We reaffirmed our view that

unprovoked firing on British ships in the West River

must be drastically checked at the outset and that,

whether or not the "Tunashan" outrage was the act of

undisciplined soldiers, if General Li did not punish

the offenders and comply with the Consul-General's

demands, the Canton Government would be identified

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with

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