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of the agreement and Mr. Shigemitsu was seriously injured a
few days previously in a bomb outrage by a Korean fanatic.
Diplomacy has its dangers no less than war.
Mr. Quo has mentioned some of the points of resemblance
in the British and Chinese characters. Lord Chatfield might
add to these. The Chinese have always been great traders and
have acquired a reputation for honesty in their commercial
dealings. It was a commonplace in the early days of our mutual
intercourse that "a Chinaman's word was as good as his bond". It
still is. The British likewise have always regarded their
merchants as the backbone of the Empire and we also make it a
matter of pride to keep our word and honour our bonds. We have
been giving some rather big ones recently, but the events and
decisions of the last few days show that they can be taken at
face value.
Lord Chatfield might refer with sympathy to the devestation
and suffering inflicted on the Chinese people by the present
campaign, and with admiration to their fortitude and undaunted
will to resistance. He could express the hope that the time
will not be too distant when this fratricidal strife will cease
between the nations of East Asia, and when China in the full
exercise of her national Sovereignty will not only be able to
resume normal and friendly relations with her island neighbours
on a basis of equality, but will set about restoring the country
to/
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