This Document is the Property of Flis Britannis Majesty's Government, and should be
returned to the Foreign Office If not required for official use.]
From CHINA.
Sir-M.-Lampson (Peking)
534
Decypher.
27th August 1930.
D.
5.25 p.m.
27th August 1930.
R.
3.30 p.m.
27th August 1930.
No. 543.
Your telegram No. 242.
Dealing firstly with your fourth question I think
it is quite useless and will be most foolish to consider
linking up this customs question with future of leased
territories. There is not the remotest chance of striking
any sort of bargain on the subject and it is futile to
expect this or any other Chinese government, to agree at the present time to any further alienation of Chinese
territory. Some opportunity may occur for dealing with
the matter during next sixty years but in the meanwhile
it would be most unwise to risk stirring up trouble by
raising question now. (See also my telegram No. 534 of
last year).
As regards your first question, failure to come
to an agreement may I presume lead to a certain measure of
irritating customs pressure, rouse the Colonies and thus
tend to promote 111 will between Hongkong and Kuangtung authorities but I doubt whether there would be any serious
repercussion on British interests in China generally nor
do I see any reason why such failure should lead to an
agitation for recovery of leased territories which will
probably ensue if it comes at all irrespective of customs
question.
As regards
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