Sor. Itking
34013
286
138
THE TIMES HISTORY OF THE WAR.
propaganita of scurrilous falsehood and as base for creating sedition and unrest in India. The liquidation of the business of the Deutsch- Asiatische Bank and other large German busi- nesses proceeded with a leisurely deliberation which evoked much unfavourable comment. The benevolent attitude displayed by the administration and the widespread belief that many Germans' places were being kept warın for them, evoked several strong expressions of dissatisfaction from the unofficial members of the Legislative Council and the British commer- cial community. The last of these demonstra- tions of public fooling took place on April 19, 1917, when the three unofficial members of the Council brought forward a resolution, calling for the exclusion of Germans from Hongkong for a period of ten years after the war. The resolution was unanimously rejected by the official members and by the Chiness representatives as being opposed to the interests of the Colony. The resolution may have been premature, pending post-bellum settlement of the question Bs to the future use of British coaling stations by German shipping, but its proposer un- doubtedly expressed the consensus of British opinion when he pleaded for effective steps to provent Germany hereafter from resuming her peaceful penetration in the strongholde of British commerce.
After the outbreak of war in Europe it became speedily manifest that Germany would
exploit every possible opportunity and empl all possible means to induce China to mainta her neutrality and to use her neutral territory as a base for the dissemination of German proju. ganda throughout Eastern Asia. Her activiti in the first instance were concentrated ug Becuring control of the Chinese Press and particularly of the Chinese newspapers publista 1 in English at the capital. To achieve this d German agenta spent money freely, and the resulta achieved were at the outset of console able importance. In October, 1914, by intimi dation and bribery, they secured, the dismissi of the British editor of the Peking Gazette, on the ground that under his direction the paper displayed an unneutral hostility to Germ. In September, 1914, a scurrilous circular, printed in English and Chinese, was spread broadeni throughout China under the title of T Truth about England.” In the spring of 1913 German agents were sent out to tour provinces with cinematograph pictures espo designed to impress the Chinese with the net. majesty, dominion, and power of the Get a Army. Even the German missionaries ..... tributed their share to the work of propage.1. When the war broke out a general appeal to the charitablo was made on behalf of the Guar missions in South China, on the ground they were isolated and in distress; to the fund Englishmen and Americana subseted. The missionaries showed their gratitud by
Ford
DRAFT.
Hongkong
Vr.
Mr.
ho 164
May
MINUTE.
1909 26/7/28
Li
20
30
July d
A you
I have de to all the wit
dish to 140 of the 16th of May repuding
certain stateencuto
ů
in Un XIX Part 173
History and Encyclopaedia of
бр
The Times History
the Wan, and
et
the androganch
to express my regret
which these unfounded
auch
REGIMENTAL BUGLERS AND DRUMMERS, Of the Chibli Viceroy's troops before the Revolution of 1911.
Courbe
Mr.
allegations
noush caut
& you
Mr. Grindle
27.7.
Lowever
Mr. Lambert.
Sir H. Road.
Nir G. Fiddes.
Mr. Hewins.
Mr. Long-
you
advious. Gawing regard
to their general nature I doubt whether
any
correction would in present
conditions produce auch effect
on Pen
mands of persons inclined to believe them
2.
of lowere you
so desire, I
have no
to your falling
objection to your
affeopriate action to contradict the