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CVII. 97
Vice-Consul:
Mr. Tan:
Vice-Consul:
Mr. Tan:
Vice-Consul:
Mr. Tan:
Vice-Consul:
Mr. Tan:
Vice-Consul:
Mr. Tan:
Vice-Consul:
According to your conjecture, what will be the reaction of overseas Chinese in the event of the British coming to a compromise with the Japanese?
This is hard to conjecture. If Britain accepts terms which are in conflict with China's interest, overseas Chinese will certainly be dissatisfied.
According to your observation, what form will overseas Chinese take in their expression of dissatisfaction?
Overseas Chinese may oppose British compromise with the Japanese, but they will maintain Anglo-Chinese friendship. demonstration is held among the youths as
If a an expression of their opposition, I will do my best to discourage such action.
If Great Britain decides to compromise will she accept terms other than those concerning the Tientsin incident?
My personal opinion is that Britain will not accept terms other than those concerning the Tientsin incident. But if she complies with whatever demands are made by the Japanese, she is assisting the latter in committing outrages.
Do you think the following demands will be included in the Anglo-Japanese terms:-
(i)
(ii)
Surrender to the Japanese of the Chinese silver in Tientsin;
Suspension of communication along the Yunnan-Burma Highway;
(iii) Cessation of financial help to China.
I cannot say whether Britain is going to accept the 1st demand. But the acceptance of the other two demands amounts to surrender and I believe that Britain will not accept them.
As a result of British compromise, the influence of the Japanese sponsored govern- ments in China will be increased. these circumstances, do you think there is
Under a possibility of overseas Chinese turning to the puppet government?
There is absolutely no such possibility. No overseas Chinese of today will look upon the Japanese as anything other than a common enemy. They want to carry on the war to the last.
In the event of the outbreak of a world war or an invasion of Malaya by the Japanese, what attitude will overseas Chinese assume towards Britain and Japan?