CONFIDENTIAL.
Report No. 1.
sir,
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British Embassy,
Tokyo.
194
13th January, 1989.
I have the honour to report that Mr. T. Nakamura,
late Japanese Consul-General at Hong Kong, called on me this morning by appointment, in order to give me his views on the situation in Hong Kong as a result of the Japanese expedition
to Canton. I should mention that the General Staff in Tokyo
were very anxious that I should get in touch with Mr.Nakamura in view of his expert knowledge of the local problems, and also on account of the good relations he had consistently
maintained with our authorities in the Colony.
2.
Mr. Nakamura at first dealt with the satisfactory
settlement of the incidents and threatened incidents on the
Kowloon frontier, which he said had been settled very
satisfactorily by mutual good will on both sides.
He paid
a special tribute to Brigadier Reeve and Captain Boxer, and said that the general atmosphere on the British side was markedly friendly. This was very gratifying to the Japanese, as quite apart from the stringent orders issued in Tokyo,
General Ando himself was well-known for his pro-British predilections. and the Commander-in-Chief's attitude was reflected in that of the subordinate commanders, and the
rank and file.
3.
Turning from purely military subjects, Mr.Nakamura made the following points on the general question of Anglo- Japanese relations, which may be recorded briefly :-
(a) From his post of observation in South China, coupled with his impressions on returning to Japan, it seemed to him that the main reason which caused anti-British sentiment in Japanese public opinion was a feeling that British policy might perhaps have been as patient and conciliatory towards Japan, her former Ally, in her great difficulties now, as it had been towards hostile and Comintern Russia during many years, and even to China herself during the anti-British outbreaks in the fairly recent past.
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I. M. Ambassador.
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(b
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