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"British government are prepared to recognise
Nationalist government as a governing authority en-
titled, over territory they now control or that they
may further control, to negotiate for immediate al-
teration of treaties concluded between Chins and
Great Britain."
I said that much as I should like to see some
practical result emerge from our conversations no
formula could in present circumstances avoid admis-
sion of division of China. Our talks had, I thought,
been of most friendly and informative character. It
was neither possible nor desirable for me to remain on
indefinitely at Hankow where really I had no oppor- tunity to think these things out dispassionately as I wished to do: and I thought we should now pause to
take stock of position. There were some very practi-
cal difficulties in front of us but His Majesty's Gov-
ernment were evidantly prepared to go into question of
treaties. At the present moment I was not clear in
mind how these difficulties could be solved. But I was
dotermined to do what I could to find way round. That
was one of the main reasons why I wanted to go to Pek-
ing where I should have leisure for thought.
To con-
sider them in detail and suggest solutions to His Majesty's Government would take me time but there was
in my mind absolutely no intention of breaking, quite the contrary. I for my part was determined that they
should continue. I could not give him unqualified as- surance that I should return to Hankow myself but if I did not do so I should send O'Malley. If in the
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