55
state of emergency for the duration of the emergency. To obtain the necessary powers by the passing of an Ordinance the text of which is freely available to the public, appears to us to be an unnecessary invitation to hostile propaganda by the Chinese Communists, and I think you will agree that a good deal of play might be made with the Ordinance by hostile propagandists.
It would certainly
be easy enough to talk of arbitrary arrest, concentration camps, etc.
4
In general I understand from our experts that legislation of this type is very difficult to justify before world opinion, and we regret that we were not given an opportunity of commenting at an earlier stage. Even at this late date there is, I think, a good deal to be said for its being repealed and replaced by draft emergency regulations of the same general tenour.
E
Your
incril
GEL 92
(P.D.Coates)