NOTHING TO
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40
might be possible or at any rate not to adopt
too rigid an attitude. It was to the interest of
the Chinese Government not to place obstacles in
the way of our relations with Japan which might
hamper our war effort, since the victory of the
illies in Europe was in the best interests of an
Independent China. If, however, the Chinese
Government persisted in their rejection of the
proposal, His Majesty's Government must reserve
their liberty of action to take whatever steps
they considered to be necessary to protect their
own interests.
In the light of these instructions Sir. A.
lark Kerr decided to go to Chungking on 27th
December (hanghai telegram No. 1389 of 19th
ecember) and informed the Chinese Government
hat he was advancing the date of his visit in
drder to discuss the silver question.
sir a. Craigie had an interview with the
Japanese Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs on
19th December and with the Foreign Minister on
21st December Tokyo telegrams Nos. 1858 and
867 of December 20th and December 1st
Both
these
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