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協中英
會華商
متاع
CHINA ASSOCIATION.
89
161, SHELL MEX.HOUSE,
TEMPLE-BAR 2178.
TELEPHONE Bramley 3023
St. Josephs,
STRAND?
Linersh Wood Road,
LONDON, W. C.2.
Bramley, Surrey.
15th December, 1939.
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Dear Howe,
Travelling down here after my conversation with you yesterday
afternoon I thought over the subject of our short conversation, i.e.,
the withdrawal of the gunboats from the Yangtsze.
Two or three
points occurred to me which did not come to my mind while I was
talking to you and which alter a little the general sense of agreement
with you which what you said left in my mind. May I set these
points out?
1
(1) The symbolic value of the gunboats. I agree
with you that
as far as "face" is concerned there is little to choose between
leaving the gunboats in circumstances in which in actuality they have
very little say, and giving the impression that they are being withdrawn
to accommodate the Japanese. May it not be argued, however, that as
long as the gunboats remain on the Yangtsze they have symbolic value,
in which description I include their bluff value. Granted that if
any occasion for a "showdown" occurred they could do nothing, it is,
I think, arguable that their presence makes the Japanese think twice
before indulging in a "showdown"
You told me that it was not intended to withdraw ships from
Shanghai and Canton. Yet is it not the case that the value of their
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