*
245
Opposition was nevertheless strong in K.M.T. Left Wing Circles, and the Chinese in the Phillipines are particularly active in fastering anti-British Imperialism agitation. Chinese politicians
There
had to take all this into account in their public speeches. was a lot-ofs manesuvuring for political influence, but Kwe,aeemed to be confident that a liberal British attitude, if firmly expressed, would meet with an understanding and liberal attitude. That was the feeling of Chang K'ai-shek and of all intellectual leaders. Opposition was confined to ultra-nationalists and partizan politicians and could be overruled if we played our hand well,
Regarding Hong Kong University, its development on a somle which would prove rently helpful to China, as well as to British prestige, could be a fine-"Bridge"-and a great offset to political disappointments. It could be "played.up" and could drown a lot of discord. But even here, approaches should be carefully made. Hu Shih is set on making a success of the re-establishment of the Universities of Central China and Kyo tells me that he and other old Professors now in Government Service are being assured of a welcome by Hu Shih if political changes forge them-to Zoavo. The Chinese inistry of Education and the Professors would all welcome a high rade University of Hong Kong, where Kuo says roundly only the
bag of Medicine was up to the highest standard. But here again
approach is tricky. Dr. Chu Chia-Lus, the Minister of. ucation ( a German educated, inoizive man,,brainy and a good ministrator) would probably favour co-operation. But he belongs a different wing of the K.M.T. politically and if.co-operation /as initially and too warmly sponsored by Yang. Shih-chieh, and fan Li-wu, who are notably pro-British, Dr. Chu (who is primarily Elder Statesman of the K.M.T. and a Party Leader) might from political perversity, and egged on by the Phillipinos, come out in opposition.
7
Nevertheless, Mr. Sloss tells us that he was much encouraged by Chu Chia-Lua and my own recollection of him is that of a really big man outstanding among his colleagues for directness and force of character, tinged however by Prussian rigidity and Political Warfare.
Kuo volunteered the hope that Hong Kong would develop a Chair for the study of Economics and International problems in the Far
ast in the U.N.O. spirit, for which he said there was great need
similar suggestion was made in one of our Reports).
To sum up, I am tending to the opinion that although we should be well advised to go ahead as soon as possible in repairing existing buildings, equipment and collecting staff and students in Hong Kong to bring the University up to local pre-war level (and I gather this would take two years), no really ambitious plans on the scale advocated by some of the HKUAC members should be publicly ventilated until we find out whether they are likely to be encouraged or opposed in Chin If the Foreign Office shies off, Why not depute Sloss, plus a colleague, to explore the ground, with the blessing of t
Foreign
:
Office and the Embassy in China to whom the finish*
.
the kudos could go if the exploration were succes
affect indifference, if the amloration at the