OUTWARD TELEGRAM
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government, and should be
kept under Lock and Key.]
$7
(F.12871/4027/61).
SPECIAL DISTRIBUTION AND WAR CABINET.
To: CHINA.
Cypher telegram to Sir A. Clark-Kerr, (Shanghai).
Foreign Office. December 28th, 1939. 9.55.p.m.
No. 1266.
-o0o---
INMEDIATE.
Your telegram No. 1390 [of the 19th December.
in the Far Last].
British policy
I suggest that your replies to Chiang Kai-shek should be on
the following lines:
(a) Thile His Majesty's Government have no desire for a conflict with the Soviet Union, they would not fail to take any
measures necessary to safeguard British interests should these be
threatened. They consider, however, that the setbacks suffered
by the Red Army in Finland together with fear of internal trouble
and of inevitable British reactions are likely to deter the
Russians from embarking on any adventures.
(b) There has been no change in our policy towards China which is based on our treaties and the League Resolutions. At the
same time we must seek to remove causes of friction between our-
selves and Japan without injury to China, and in this we shall
try to keep in step with the United States.
(c) It is difficult to answer hypothetical questions. Te do not consider, however, that there is at the moment any imminent
danger of war with Japan, Cur views regarding the Soviet Union are stated under (a).
2. Assistance to China. Cur own war needs prevent us
from