discussion with the Governor of Makao, and, that,
as far as the Admiralty were concerned, he thought
this question should not be raised unless and until
book
up
the Japanese raised it themselves.
'A'
Sir H. Moore asked whether it might not be
better to postpone the proposed visit, in view of the
fact that Sir G. Northcote would be arriving in Hong
Kong so soon. Mr. Henderson said that the Foreign Office
would have no objection as long as they could reassure
the Portuguese in some way by saying that, when a visit
did take place, the discussion of the defence question
had been authorised. He thought it was probable that
no commit
t/ment
M
on the part of His Majesty's Government the Portuguese
was desired, but that they wished merely for an exchange
of information as to, e.g., what importance was attached
by His Majesty's Government to Hong Kong.
He said that they had considered whether it
might not be worth while to ask the Portuguese to make
it clear precisely what they desired in this matter,
but that he thought this might be dangerous, as the
Portuguese
64A,