()
Communistic and other anti-British parties have spa 2 no
effort or expense in poisoning the minds of 11 classes in China against the British by the circulation of the basest
falsehoods, some of them so isprobable to an educated person
as to appear not worthy of consideration, but the ignoranA
masses in China who read the Topmacular press are not alls
distinguish the false from the true.
It appears to be most important to undertalco
counter-propaganda, or at least to stop or reduce the extent
of anti-British propaganda, and such work can only be carried
out by persons having such a familiarity with the Chinese
language and habits of thought as to be able to spread the
truth in the way most likely to be effective. Such persong
elbould get into touch with the editors and oth-rs connected
with the vernacular press, and do their best to secure the
publication of truthful statements as to British actions and
sympathies.
This kind of work could, it is thought, be
best undertaken by such an agent as has been suggested abov.
in conjunction with his other activities.
To sum up, I wish to impress upon His Majesty's
Government the fact that no settlement arrived at in Peking
can be successful in protecting British interests in Chine
unless it is acceptable in Canton also.
And I wish to suggest that the Government should
96
!