Page 103
[F11495/1147/40]
Reed in
Registry 17/12 (No.1206) (08/10/40)
Copied to:::
C-1- rang to:69 Govt. of India 0.256 Mr.Lening No. 166 Changhai 0.161–
mr
Page 103
PRINT.
FE (bhina D
<
BR
Десеновки в
+ 3 copies fu FE W
CHUNGING
November 30th, 1945.
to mr Beven
Wallinger (Received 14th Decin.br)
Sections
91
Page 103
Ферр.
:
sir,
I have the honour to transmit to you, herewith, a copy of a memorandum by the General officer Commending, British Troops in Chine, on the recent visit to Chungking of Major General F.. Fasting, C. B.D., D.o.U.,
D.o.C., Commander of the Landforces in Hong Kong.
8. I fully endorac Major General Hayes' opinion
and that this visit was eminently successful and timely; the numbers of senior Chinese officers who turned up at the various functions to do honour to the visitor was striking and gratifying.
3. I would myself be inclined to take a more cautious attitude in regard to Chinese reactions to hongkong than is taken by General Hayes. it is indeed
and the point has been made in other communications to you from this embassy that Chinese high authorities have recently shown an increasing tendency to seex British
40 that cooperation in their solution of their problems.
natural extent one might logically expcet that China's aspirations" in regard to Hongkong should be relegated to the background. Morcover, I feel sure that thinking Chinese do appreciate the value to China, and of course to their own personal affairs, of having a stable administration in so convenient a location as the colony. This indeed givos emphasis to the contention that the more rapid the consoli- dation of the economic situation of the colony, the greater the advantage of its existence to British interests in the Far ast as a whole. But Hongkong as a theme for political tub-thumping is as convenient to the Chinese as its geo- graphical location and it must be difficult to give any definition of the word "immediate in Goneral hayes' view that we "certainly nead have no immediate fear of trouble with the Chinese over Bongkong".
•
4. For the rest, I agree with the General's conclu- sion that, having regard to the trend here towards seeking British cooperation, s show of firmness upon rights end decision as to our objectives is more likely to pay divi- dends than an over-investment in appeasement.
ele
I have the--honour to be,
ith the higheet Tospect,
voir,se
Your most obadieut
iamlede vant,
The Right Honourable
rnest
evi, m.i., Foreign frice
LONDO
(signed)
G.A. WALLINGER
73.31
Page 103
Page 103