CO129-504-13 Chinese situation- request from General Li Chai-sum for assistance in obtaining arms and ammunition 27-4-1927 - 6-10-1927 — Page 86

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12 May

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90

TELEGRAM from the Governor of Hong Kong to the Secretary of

State for the Colonies.

Dated 6th May, 1927.

(Received, Colonial Office, 8.30 a.m. 6th May, 1927).

Addressed to Secretary of State for the Colonies

repeated to Peking No.34 Canton. Arms embargo. My telegram

of 27th April.

Portuguese Consul General called to see me to-day

at the request of the Governor of Macao who had received

request from General Lichaisum for arms and ammunition

accompanied by offer that if request were granted all reds

and strikers now causing anxiety to the Macao Government would

be driven away from Lappa and Portuguese frontier. The

Governor of Macao asked for my opinion and said that he would

in this matter follow the policy of Hong Kong Government.

I replied that Lichaisum had also asked the

British Authorities for arms and ammunition; that in my opinion

arms embargo was injurious to Hong Kong and Macao but that I

did not think that it should be relaxed in favour of

Lichaisum unless he publicly declared his intention to suppress

all anti-foreign manifestations to respect foreign treaty

rights pending negotiation in proper form of revised treaties

and to suppress piracy and brigandage; and that in any case

decision would have to be taken in London and Lisbon and not

by the Governor of Macao and myself locally.

Portuguese Consul-General said that the Governor

of Macao would doubtless telegraph similar views to Lisbon

and meanwhile postpone definite answer to Lichaisum.