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that the words "adviser with experience of China" should be used in the reply. The reply as finally given was not agreed with the Foreign Office in those terms, and
and, in stating that "action to give effect to his request is in hand" went somewhat further than we could have wished. But I cannot in any case agree with your view that the term "adviser with experience of China" com nits us to the appoint- ment of a Foreign Service officer, since your Hong Kong Cadets underwent their initial language training in Canton prior to 1938, and thus can be said to possess "experience of China".
We recognise, with you, the importance of trying to find an officer with China experience, but our personnel position is probably as acute as yours and, as shown in Foreign Office telegram to Nanking No.129 of the 6th February, we may only be able to make a Foreign Service officer available if the Ambassador agrees to the indefinite closing down of Tihua, an important intelligence centre we can ill afford to See closed for long. Since that telegram was sent, the position has been made even more acute by the sudden death in Peking of J. R. Boyce one of our younger and most promising Consuls. If, therefore, the Ambassador feels that his staff position is such that he cannot possibly spare a man for Hong Kong we may, I am afraid, have to ask you to fill the appointment from your own Service. I am hopeful, however, that this may not be necessary.
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