[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government, and should be returned
to the Foreign Office if not required for official use.]
197
From CHINA.
Decypher.
Mr. Blunt (Canton)
34th September 1937.
D.
(Wireless)
26th September 1937.
A
Re 8.45 .m.
26th September 1937.
No. 18.
14
f
Addressed to Peking 77 of September 24th.
Marshal Li Tsung-jên sent his Canton representative
General Kan Chung-hua to see me to-day with an offer to the
Hongkong government to support them with 100,000 troops
whenever Hongkong should be attacked by Japanese provided
government of Hongkong or His Majesty's Government would now
assist Kuangsi government with military supplies on long term
credit. Details of supplies were not mentioned except aero-
planes. Marshal Li Tsung-Jen observed that Japan's attack
on China concerned the whole world.
2. In reply I expressed my personal sympathy with China's
difficulties and my appreciation of Marshal's offer which I
said I would pass on to His Majesty's Ambassador as requested
but I explained delicate position of His Majesty's Government
and my strong opinion that any purchases would have to be
through ordinary commercial channels. I added that I would
be glad to put General Kan Chung-hua in touch with a British
firm but that to my knowledge the Canton government had wished
to make similar purchases and had found that cash payments were
essential and that no deliveries were possible for very long
periods, I added further that Marshal would realise that
there