F 984/42/10.
February
Despatched.
14.
16
Sir A. Clark Kerr,
Shanghai.
No....
Telegram.
Canton telegram No. 18 to Shanghai
(of 30th January:
Canton-Kowloon Railway).
We must be careful not to make any arrangement
in South China such as would prejudice our
position in regard to British interests
elsewhere in China.
2. Subject to your views I consider that
His Majesty's Consul-General should inform his
Japanese colleague that His Majesty's
Government are unable to suggest any formula
without knowing precisely what the Japanese
Government have in mind. Their general
position in regard to railways in the occupied
areas of China is that they look to the
Japanese Government to respect British
interests in such railways and they consider
that the assurances given them by the Japanese
Government, quite apart from any questions of
international law, fully entitle them to
expect/