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10.
from the Chinese but also from other Powers, not excluding the
U.S.A. These Chinese would focus their discontent on us and
could make HONGKONG the "chopping block" for every grievance
they could trump up and exploit. Incidents with no local
connection whatever with HONGKONG, such as trade disputes
involving our nationals or their employees or even any foreign
interests in CHINA or Chinese interests in the Empire, could
be related to HONGKONG by unscrupulous politicians and
agitators making use for their own ends of distortions based
on a nationalistic interpretation of the "San Min Chu I". As
in the past, Chinese agitators with the connivance of a
nationalistic and revolutionary Government and of a people bent
on short-cuts to power would persuade themselves that the
British Empire and its Colonial Policy was the main factor
preventing the national and rightful development of the new and
independent CHINA enjoined on the Chinese by the Testament of
Dr. SUN Yat-sen. Old grievances connected with the former
Treaty Port system would be transferred to HONGKONG, the British
would figure in Chinese propaganda as the "Nigger in the Chinese
wood-pile" and "British obstruction" would serve to explain their
own faults and failures.
Experience shows that foreign traders
and others including Americans would be only too pleased to see
"British Imperialism" serve as the lightning conductor in a
storm of hatred which would otherwise involve them.
This is not a fanciful picture. The British Empire
whar
itu
has too often been forced to defend in CHINA common European
principles based on right and justice, treaties, International Law
and modern trade usages in the past not to make us realize that we
will still be exposed to attack in the post-war World as the
protagonists of "Imperialism" in Pan-Asian circles. The retention
of HONGKONG will undoubtedly render us much more open to immediate
attack and serious friction with CHINA in the post-war period.
The risk must be faced and clearly understood.
Would we not avoid a great deal of trouble for
ourselves and succeed in making firm and grateful friends of the
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