NO DISTRIBUTION.
Decypher.
Sir A. Clark Kerr, (Chungking).
May 1st, 1939.
D.
(by wireless) May 1st, 1939.
R.
9.30.a.m. May 3rd, 1939.
No. 19. TOUR.
2174
IMPORTANT.
My immediately preceding telegram.
In this matter my main pre-occupation has been that we should
not allow ourselves to be hustled by the need for haste or by
Japanese threats into doing anything about which upon more
leisurely reflection our consciences would trouble us.
I have not the files by me but my impression is that until recently His Majesty's Consul-General was satisfied that everything reasonably possible was being done in the Concession to prevent
unneutral acts, that his discussions with Japanese were based on
this belief, but that information received from them has shown
that things have been going on in the Concession of which he was not aware and that he feels compelled to give Concession a purge.
I share his view that a purge would be expedient and we differ only upon the way in which the medicine should be given.
As I see it the Chinese apart from sporadic general warnings
which have clearly carried little conviction have been hitherto
relatively free to use concession for activities which however patriotic have compromised its neutrality, and suddenly find that
In the they have got themselves on to dangerous ground. circumstances I feel it would be only fair to give them the chance to get off it and I think that in the light of recent events they
will do so with all haste and will probably prove to be simpler
to manage in the future.
If......