(F 4847/4847/10)
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FOREIGN OFFICE, S.W.1.
19th May, 1938.
4
My dear Gent,
In your secret letter No.53852/38, of the 6th May,
you asked for our views as to the reply which should be
sent to the private letter from the Governor of Hong Kong
to the late Secretary of State for the Colonies on the
subject of the New Territories.
Assuming that it is our intention to retain Hong
Kong and to defend it, if necessary, against the Japan of
the future, it would, we think, be worth while to pay a
reasonable price now for the acquisition of more extensive
rights in connexion with the New Territories. In
considering this, however, it would be necessary to bear
in mind:
(1) the dangers attendant on giving financial
assistance to China indicated by Sir Robert Craigie in his
telegram No.582, of the 10th May (copy enclosed);
G.E.J. Gent Esq., D.S.O., 0.B.E.
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