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2
6.
(b) they want to have something to make a fass about;
and
(c) they have come to the conclusion that they would
prefer not to supply the rice anyway.
We suggest that if the issue is raised again by M.F.A. they should be told the gist of paragraph 2 and informed that it is our view
(a) that there are no real obstacles in the way of
the exporting the rice; end
(b) the their continuing to make a fuss about the
matter when we have made things easy for them is a powerful indication that they are "not sincere" in their approach to the problem.
Foreign Office please paas Pering No. 131.
Sir D. Trench
[Repetition to Peking referred for departmental
decision]
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