COLONIAL
MON
OFFICE
153
counsellors of the Government. One hears it said that those who shouted "Banzai" yesterday take a prominent part in singing "God save the King" today and that loyalty counts for nothing.
4. The question of the "disposal" of these tainted persons will become acute on the arrival of the new Governor.
Is he to be met on Queen's Pier by representatives of the Forces and also by former members of our Councils who during the occupation served on the Japane se sponsored Councils? If so, I am certain that he will, in Army parlance, step off on the wrong foot.
Is he to have an Executive Council and a
Legislative Council from which the British un-official representatives will be absent recupera ting, but on which there will be a "Rump" of tainted Chine se representatives?
To my mind this would be calamitous and I believe that MacDougall has come to accept my view that the Governor should come empowered to govern with such counsellors as he may choose to appoint as and when occasion may arise even though this may involve the suspension of the Letters Patent.
5. This proposal may, in these democratic days, be criticised as reactionary, but I believe it to be necessitated by circumstances. Any criticism would, I believe be stilled if the Governor on his arrival were to announce the intention to grant a constituti on for a Municipal Government as soon as circumstances will allow. No precise details need be given so long as it is made quite clear that there will be a wide franchise
and