[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.]
39
Decypher.
FROM CHINA.
Mr. Gage (Nanking).
6th September, 1957.
D, D. (By W/T)
7th September, 1937.
R. 8.45 p.m.
7th September, 1937.
No.421.
XXXXXXXXXXX
Hongkong telegram No.169 to Colonial Office of
September 1st.
In addition to point mentioned in my telegram No.417
to you Chinese also feel that they are fighting our battle
as well as their own and they cannot understand how we can even contemplate damning such an important source of their
resistance. In their opinion the fact that Japanese have
not declared war makes arms traffic through Hongkong
perfectly legitimate.
I venture to put forward further consideration that if
we now cut off arms supply to China through Hongkong we
are unlikely to obtain large share in rearmament of
China after termination of hostilities.
Addressed to Foreign Office No.421 of September 6th.
Repeatedt Hongkong, Peking, C.in C. Embassy Offices
Shanghai.