39
resisting Japanese attempts at encroachment the
British community had suffered great hardship
and substantial loss. His Majesty's Government
were no more than the Chinese in a position to
protect the silver should the Japanese proceed
to the use of force, while its continued presence
in the concession was a provocation as real as
that of the anti-Japanese terrorists.
His
Majesty's Government would be incurring a grave
responsibility were they to allow this state
of affairs to continue indefinitely and they
considered it their duty to try to come to a
settlement with the Japanese provided they could
do so without sacrificing any vital Chinese
interest or abandoning the principles governing
their attitude towards China as set out in the
treaties to which they were a party. They
considered, especially in view of the moral and
material support which they had given to
Chinese Government, that they were entitled
to expect the latter to afford such help as
+
might
NOTHING TO
BE
WRITTEN
IN
THIS
MARGIN.