CO129-502-7 China- general situation 4-3-1927 - 26-4-1927 — Page 57

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DECYPHER TELEGRAM from the Governor of Hong Kong to the Secretary

of State for the Colonies.

Dated 14th April.

Received, Colonial Office, 6.50 a.m., 14th April, 1927.)

Your telegram of 12th April. Danger we apprehend is that in revenge for proscribing Hong Kong general labour union and as a result of Kinshan incident extremists at Canton may (a) Endeavour to force another general strike in Hong Kong by

means of intimidation; 40 men of the "Dare to Die Corps" are reported to have come here on 12th April and to be plotting bomb outrages. Police hope to capture them. (b) Renewal of Anti British boycott by means of armed pickets at Canton and

elsewhere.

This would not be case "only of labour troubles in Hong Kong" but a direct communistic attack on a British Colony. Such attack would have to be met by individual action by Great Britain. I would add that approach of labour day 1st May

must be taken into account in present situation.

We submit that this should not be tolerated and that

if an attack on this Colony in either form eventuates we should

at once reply by occupying Bogue Fort and blockading the west River. Please also see Brenan's telegram to the Foreign

Office No.23 of 11th April.

You will observe from Barton's telegram of 12th

April to the Foreign Office that Chiang Kai Shek has sup- pressed by force general labour union at Shanghai. Neverthe- less I received to-day through Brenan protest from Canton authorities against action taken here and Canton Press is full of violent propaganda on the subject.

Prompt action will be necessary when crisis comes and I should be glad to have precise instructions beforehand as to steps which I may take in co-operation with local naval

and military authorities. Repeated to Peking No.31 of the

14th April.