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fullest co-operation and allegiance of the Chinese in Malaya,
and it is safe to say that, at the present time, if we went
to war with Japan we should et full support from them.
But they are a queer people, easily swayed; and the
Communist societies among them, such as the Anti-nemy Backing-
up Society and the Vanguard Corps, can do a lot of harm, if
they get the chance, by stirring up mistrust of Great Britain.
The news that we get from London is necessarily very
much summarised and therefore liable to be misunderstood,
especially as it arrives so often at the same time as the
accounts that come from foreign sources in much more full and
plausible detail. It would be of real help to us if I could
receive in advance of publication the gist of any announcement
which His Majesty'a Government may decide to make in regard to
Japan with a sufficiently full explanation.
We should then
Sudden
have time to consider it and its probable effect locally, and
to take such steps as seemed necessary. For example, Rugby
has just sent out the statement regarding the handing over of
the four Chinese accused of murder in Tientsin.
shocks of this kind are liable to cause trouble. I am away
from Singapore, but I am glad to say that there has been no
local agitation in this case, and I consider that the arrival
of reinforcements and the attitude of the Press (the "Straits
Times" had an admirable leading article headed "Justice and
Politics") has done much to keep people quiet.
It would also help greatly if I could be told from
time to time of the possible trend of the negotiations, or the
reasons why His Majesty's Government is taking a certain line.
I should then have the chance of considering whether it would
be possible discreetly to prepare the public so that when any
announcement is made, the chances of misunderstanding may be
reduced.
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