893.51/4580
The British Ambassador (Howard) to the Secretary of State
Sir: With reference to previous correspondence regarding the joint naval demonstration at Canton in consequence of Sun YatSen’s threat to seize the Customs at that port, I have the honour to inform you, under instructions from His Majesty’s Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, that His Majesty’s Government no longer consider it necessary to maintain the demonstration in question provided that arrangements can be made for its renewal in case of necessity.
In acquainting you with my Government’s views on this matter, I am instructed to enquire whether the Government of the United States are in agreement therewith, and in that event I should be most grateful if you would inform me at your earliest convenience whether, in case of necessity, the United States Government would be prepared to co-operate in arranging for a renewal of the naval demonstration referred to above.
A similar enquiry is being addressed to the Governments to which they are accredited by His Majesty’s Representatives at Paris, Rome, Tokio and Lisbon.
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