SECRET
Memorandum of Interview.
43
General “u Te-Then came to see me on September
24th by appointment made at his own request. We had little
of real importance to say but I took the opportunity of
rubbing into him that it was all the more important, now
that Great Britain is engaged in a major war, that Hong
Kong should not be a centre of anti-Japanese or of Chinese
political (e.g. anti-Fang Ching "ei) activities.
As he well knew, I had always striven for the
maintenance of a strictly neutral attitude towards the
Sino-Japanese conflict on the part of this Colony, in the
fire belief that that was in the best interests of China
and Great Britain. This policy had permitted us 'inter alia'
to accommodate the Agencies of many Chinese Government
Departments which need immediate touch with the outside
world for their purposes. Should, however, Hong Kong fall
open to the charge that anti-Japanese organizations (whether
direct or anti-puppet) were active here the situation might
broome very difficult and might easily re-act upon the afore
said Agencies which are legitimately carrying out their
functione here.
Accordingly I impressed upon General "u how
important it is that eminent Chinese such as fr. T.V. Soong
and he himself should not merely discourage but should
actively represe any tendency for anti-Japanese or anti-puppet
organizations to arise here. Te had a right to expect that
return. Such activities should find their arenas in China
proper. In my own part I shall do all in my power to stamp
them out.