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ment of national morale.
Such arguments were, however, never advanced in heat, or with threats, but rather in the hope of invit- ing logical concurrence.
In the main, there was little argument, but rather a brief and frank "of course, we want it back", without admission of any need to justify a statement evoked more by sentiment or emotion than by reasoning. No note of urgency attended the state ment, and its very dispassionateness implied an assurance that "of course, we will get it back". One Chinese romarked: "of course we will not ask you for it back. It's up to you to decide.
Hot withstanding the complete dispassionateness of these viewpoints, a notable measure of emotion and warmth did, however, attend upon the assurance conveyed of Chinese appreciation should Britain see fit, while the war is still unconcluded, to agree to return Hongkong when the war is over. Such an act would, evidently, be interpreted by the Chinese as a high form of compli- ment to China's new international stature and as an most signifi- cant earnest of a changed British attitude towards China, clearly differentiated from past policies, It would be greeted, therefore, with a measure of appreciation far and away beyond the intrinsie worth of Hongkong in the new and expanded Chinese realm. One comment in this category was almost in these words: "Since Chinese goodwill is now perhaps the only, and certainly the best, basis on which the British can build future relationships with China, the goodwill engendered by an agreement to return Hongkong would repay the British many times the cost",
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E. T. Nash
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