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the better one, owing to the fact that the question bristles with complications, which can only be properly understood on the spot. For the Hong Kong Government in the first instance, to send their scheme to Maze for him to
consult the Nanking Government about it does not appeal to me, as I said before, as likely to lead to any satisfactory solution.
Personal discussion by experts
on both sides point by point seems to offer a much better
hope of agreement than any long-range negotiation of this
nature. However, as I am not yet aware what answer you
may have sent to Maze, I put forward these comments in the most tentative way.
7.
I can only assure you once more that I am most
willing to do anything in my power to assist a settlement
of this most difficult problem, and if there is any idea
I can explore for you I shall be most delighted to do so.
8. As this question is giving them a good deal of
anxiety at home, I am sending Wellesley (privately and confidentially) a copy of this letter and of yours to which it is a reply. I hope you won't object, but I think it is important he should realise that you and I are doing
our best to get this involved matter settled.
Yours sincerely,
(Sd.) Miles W. Lampson.