50
alterna ive but to put in a full and reason-
ed reply to kr. Bang's Note, there is a risk
that the very nature of that reply, if
unaccompanied by any expression of our view
og to the nature of the aluin put forward,
may lead the Chinese 20v-rusont to continue
the diplomatie oorr @pondence rather than
let the claim drop. I do not seun to imply
that the suzgected counter-olikim would
Legenserily suqueed before an interno ti omal
tri unul, but the facts which would be
brought out in any such proceedings would be
eo disagreeable from the point of view of
Chinese prestigs that the sugestion may,
pezhape, indude the Chinese Government to
refrain from pres...ing the case of the "Irene
at any rate
the extent of taking that it
should be submitted to arbitration.