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2.1
11.
Chinese in the post-war period by giving up our Crown Colony as a gesture of our generous recognition of the contribution of the Chinese people to the defeat of JAPAN and the Axis and
as a firm sign of our good-will? Would our obstinacy in the face of Chinese pressure not be construed in many and wide circles as, short-sighted and deliberate sabotage of the hopes
of the brave New Order in Asia?
Such questionings may shake those who have had no responsible experience of Chinese ways, but will have little
effect on those who share the Faith that Under God the British
Commonwealth of Nations is the greatest Power on Earth for Good.
That is the Faith which British Imperial Statesmen charged with
the guidance of our Destinies are bound to spread and uphold not only in the Empire but in the World, convincing not only our own Peoples but Foreign Nations as well that our Power is based
on Strength and a determination to exert it in defence of what
is for the best of all Peoples and that our Imperial policies
are based on long-sighted views for the improvement of
international relations.
It is of paramount importance that Faith in the
Destiny of the British Empire for Good should be firmly held and
believed in, not only by the British but by all their friends and
Allies, and particulady by the Americans and by the Chinese
That Faith
Or the West
who are most amenable to Anglo-American influence.
cannot be affirmed by surrender. If we discard HONGKONG, would
that strengthen our resolution to hold SINGAPORE, CEYLON and
ADEN, or MALTA or GIBRALTAR in face of pressure?
Indies? The implications are wide, and they need pointing out
to those who would make a start in dismembering the Empire of
any part.
That we would succeed in appeasing the Chinese by rendition the retention of HONGKONG is, I believe, a gross and facile
misconception. HONGKONG is not the only area under British rule
where Chinese are nourishing nationalistic political ambitions.
"L'appétit vient en mangeant"; Once the Chinese had assimilated
the gift of HONGKONG, they would demand further appeasement of
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