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Copy of Memo, handed of Mr. Abdily to Fe
F2285 888/10
TILE
Awing like la
An enquiry was recently received from Mr. Godfrey Phillips, Secretary-General of the Shanghai Municipal Council, concerning the propriety of his continuing to function in that capacity after the outbreak of war between Great Britain and Japan.
His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom have consequently been considering what advice they should give to British subjects in occupied China on their attitude towards the Japanese administration.
They propose to reply to Mr. Phillips's enquiry that they expect patriotic British subjects to refrain from assisting the enemy war effort but that they should not regard as unpatriotic the participation of British subjects in the maintenance of such public services as is for the benefit of the civil population in the occupied territory. His Majesty's Government anticipate that this reply will reach a large number of British subjects in similar positions to that of Mr. Phillips.
Before they so inform the Swiss Government, they have asked whether the United States Government have given any comparable instructions to their nationals in occupied China and if not what is their attitude.
FOREIGN OFFICE,
26th March, 1942.
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