the Governor of Hongkong for further consideration in the
light of the changed political situation. Mr. Hu, who is
anxious for a rapid decision of the question, begged me to
telegraph to you. I said however that it would involve too
long a telegram, but I would write without delay and ask you
to deal with the matter at your earliest convenience and, if
possible, let me have a telegraphio reply. I warned him that
you would doubtless have to consult with the cable companies
and that an immediate decision so far as the Legation is
concerned might be impossible.
4.
86
It now appears that both the Hongkong and the
Canton authorities are prepared and even anxious to have the
telegraph office removed to Chinese territory, and it seems
that the only objection to such a course has hitherto been the
fear of the cable companies that, by offending the Poking
Government, they would jeopardize the negotiations for the
renewal of their landing rights after 1930 and the maintenance
of their offices in Shanghai, Foochow and Amoy. I imagine
however that these considerations no longer apply. It is
unlikely that the Peking Goverment, as at present constituted,
will ever again be in a position to negotiate agreements
affecting 3South China; Shanghai, Foochow and Amoy are already in
the hands of the Kuomintang, and the cable companies are more
likely to endanger their interests by blocking the desires
of the Nationalists than by offending what remains of the
Northern administration at Peking. Moreover, whereas Hongkong
could now secure the removal of the telegraph office to Chinese
territory and make such action appear a graceful concession to
the wishes of the Canton authorities, if the question is allowed
to drag on until possibly the Nationalists capture Peking and
control the whole telegraph administration, the Nationalist
Goverment may then have the same objections to the removal
of the office from Hongkong as were entertained by the previous
republican regime.
5./
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